Leon Rose: RJ Barrett is a core piece of our team's foundation

“We are thrilled to announce a well-deserved extension for RJ Barrett, a core piece of our team’s foundation,” said Knicks president Leon Rose. “At only 22 years old, he has elevated his game each season, solidifying himself as a force on both ends of the court. We believe he will continue to improve because of his passion for the game and dedication to his craft. We want to continue to build our team and culture around players like RJ who possess these values and qualities.”
Source: NBA.com

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

StatMuse @statmuse
Which are you taking?
Package A:
— RJ Barrett
— Obi Toppin
— Mitchell Robinson
— 3x Unprotected Picks
Package B:
— Collin Sexton
— Lauri Markkanen
— 3x Unprotected Picks
— 2x Pick Swaps pic.twitter.com/bmG0WSV18n – 9:09 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Leon Rose never talks and stories change after the fact — but there’s an important distinction in whether he drew a true hard line or whether he would’ve exceeded Cavs offer if given the chance. If it’s the latter, it’s a bad look. – 8:53 PM Yaron Weitzman @YaronWeitzman
I’m fascinated by the fact that Leon Rose decided not to trade for Mitchell.
Wrote about this, and what it says about Rose, for @FOX Sports News/@FOXSports:
foxsports.com/stories/nba/do… – 8:05 PM Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
New for ⁦@YahooSports⁩: Donovan Mitchell joins ambitious Cavs after Knicks balk at parting ways with RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes (full trade details of what Knicks turned down inside) sports.yahoo.com/donovan-mitche… – 7:45 PM Ian Begley @IanBegley
NYK was unwilling to meet Utah’s asking price for Donovan Mitchell, which at one point included RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier, 3 unprotected first round picks, additional draft compensation & another young Knick. NYK’s decision comes with significant risk: sny.tv/articles/knick… – 6:53 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Although the story will be the Knicks choosing RJ Barrett over Donovan Mitchell, the more appropriate comp here is the player they signed for $100 million who plays the same position, Jalen Brunson. …Brunson’s signing made Mitchell an awkward fit. – 4:18 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
The Hawks got Dejounte Murray to pair with Trae Young
The Cavs got Donovan Mitchell to pair with Darius Garland
and the Knicks… got Jalen Brunson to pair with RJ Barrett – 4:14 PM Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Knicks announce the contract extension for RJ Barrett, with Leon Rose saying he’s become “a force on both ends of the court.” – 3:59 PM Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBA
I know Knick fans are apoplectic right now but better off not getting Mitchell than overpaying for him. Leon Rose once again shows patience and discipline – 3:43 PM Ben Anderson @BensHoops
My understanding was the Cavaliers had made a compelling offer for Donovan Mitchell and the @Utah Jazz had initially rejected the deal.
Have to imagine they had their sights set on RJ Barrett and when that fell through they reengaged with the Cavaliers. – 3:42 PM Ian Begley @IanBegley
League source confirms Cavs finalizing trade for Donovan Mitchell. In talks w/NYK, Utah had sought RJ Barrett in packages. NYK extended Barrett earlier in week, complicating talks, opening window for others like CLE, who had pulled out of talks last week. ESPN 1st on Mitchell/CLE – 3:42 PM Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Ooof that’s a tough one for Leon Rose. – 3:36 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Leon Rose issues a statement via the team’s Twitter account to announce RJ Barrett’s extension.
Just as news of Donovan Mitchell’s trade to the Cavaliers hit pic.twitter.com/OONCdOxC2o – 3:35 PM Marc Berman @NYPost_Berman
Leon Rose has just announced RJ Barrett’s extension just as it is reported by ESPN Donovan Mitchell is headed to Cleveland. – 3:35 PM Ian Begley @IanBegley
Statement from NYK president Leon Rose on RJ Barrett’s extension, which is four years and up to $120M with incentives: pic.twitter.com/Uq4Z4UzpV5 – 3:31 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Players to average at least 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 made three-pointers per game over the second half of the 2021-22 season:
LeBron, Luka, Tatum, KD and RJ Barrett
end of list. – 2:05 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Did RJ Barrett extension set the market for Tyler Herro, Jordan Poole? nba.nbcsports.com/2022/09/01/did… – 1:46 PM Marc Berman @NYPost_Berman
“If they don’t pay him as the third pick, then it would look like Scott Perry made a mistake”: The good and bad of RJ Barrett’s contract extension #NBA #Knicks nypost.com/2022/09/01/cou… – 10:51 AM CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Donovan Mitchell trade rumors: Knicks paid RJ Barrett with intention of still striking Jazz deal
cbssports.com/nba/news/donov… – 9:58 AM Ian Begley @IanBegley
From earlier: A few notes on previous Jazz-NYK trade talks surrounding Donovan Mitchell, how RJ Barrett & Mitchell Robinson can match a late 1990s Knicks mark, GM Scott Perry & rare NYK continuity: sny.tv/articles/jazz-… – 8:44 AM Marc Berman @NYPost_Berman
#Knicks Newsletter: Why RJ Barrett’s contract extension has some NBA scouts scratching their heads nypost.com/2022/09/01/cou… – 8:36 AM Ian Begley @IanBegley
A few notes on previous Jazz-Knicks trade talks surrounding Donovan Mitchell, how RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson can match a late 1990s Knicks mark, GM Scott Perry and rare NYK continuity: sny.tv/articles/jazz-… – 8:51 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
New @John Hollinger & Duncan: Which Rebuild Looks the Best; RJ Barrett Extension; Chet Injury; Mailbag
hollinger-duncan.simplecast.com/episodes/which… – 4:08 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Leon Rose when Danny Ainge asks for a 9th unprotected pick pic.twitter.com/HPYYxTXHVM – 12:12 PM

More on this storyline

Sources told Yahoo Sports a deal was close with the Knicks before New York balked at the last second, pivoting to give RJ Barrett a four-year extension. It would’ve included Barrett, Quentin Grimes, expiring contracts, two first-round picks, a top-four protected pick owed to the Knicks from Milwaukee in 2025, two pick swaps and two second-round picks. The Knicks felt the price was too steep, sources said, and walked away. -via Yahoo! Sports / September 1, 2022 Ian Begley: In talks with Utah, Knicks made offers to Jazz that included 3 unprotected first round picks and didn’t include RJ Barrett. Club also made offers that included RJ Barrett, two unprotected firsts and the 2025 first round pick from MIL that is top 4 protected. -via Twitter @IanBegley / September 1, 2022 New York had the assets package that Utah preferred and the sides seemed to be inching closer to a trade on Sunday night and into Monday, but New York balked on including Quentin Grimes into a trade with RJ Barrett to acquire Donovan Mitchell, sources said. When guard Immanuel Quickley was proposed as a replacement for Grimes in the trade, Utah wanted three unprotected first-round draft picks as part of the package — but New York would only do a third first-round pick that included Top 5 protections, sources said. -via ESPN / September 1, 2022