New York Knicks: Three early takeaways from 2019 NBA Summer League

2. RJ Barrett struggling in the summer league does not matter

A player like Kenny Wooten standing out in the summer league is great for him since he went undrafted and had no expectations. So when RJ Barrett, who has high expectations as the No. 3 pick, struggles, it becomes notable.

Barrett was lost in the New York Knicks offense in the summer league opener, finishing with 10 points on just 4-for-18 shooting. He followed that with eight points on 3-for-15 shooting and eight turnovers.

For some players, though, it is just summer league.

The games do not matter. No one remembers how a player performs weeks or months afterward. For some of the talent, they are playing their first organized games since college, while others never shared the court with these teammates. Barrett last played in the Elite Eight, and his college teammates have new homes.

Sure, if some of these concerns with Barrett’s shooting carry into the regular season, then it becomes notable; but after just two games of basketball that go away by the middle of the month, the poor performances carry minimal value.

Plus, there are two more scheduled games for the Knicks. One good night will cast everything else aside in the “what have you done for me lately” category.

As the old saying went with Kevin Knox: he is just 19 years old.