3 Knicks players who should be untouchable in trade talks
1. RJ Barrett
This one was obvious. RJ Barrett made some pretty ridiculous strides as a scorer this season. While his statistics may not show it, it didn’t take long while watching Knicks games to see the impact Barrett had on the team in 2021-22.
With that in mind, I truly believe that Barrett should be considered untouchable in trade discussions, as he is the kind of player you put stars next to, not trade away for one.
If Barrett can continue to make the improvements we have seen him make every year, then there is a pretty good chance we could see the 22-year-old emerge as a star in this league. He has not only shown the potential to be a great scorer, but Barrett has had many flashes of elite defense, especially during the beginning of the 2021-22 season.
Obviously, Barrett still struggles with inconsistencies, however, he is young and has still been a pretty raw scorer in a non-ideal situation. Despite this, the addition of Jalen Brunson will not only space the floor more for Barrett, but it will also take a ton of pressure off of him offensively. That will open the door for not only improved play defensively, but more consistent performances from the rising star.
Barrett has shown a lot to like in his three years in the league. If the Knicks truly want to be taken seriously, they should try to avoid trading Barrett and instead look to build around him in the coming years.
