The Knicks have exercised their 2021/22 contract options on recent lottery picks RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox, the team’s PR department tweets.
Barrett, the third pick of last year’s draft, will make approximately $8.6MM in his third season. Knox, chosen ninth in the 2018 draft, will make $5.85MM in his fourth season during the 2021/22 campaign.
Barrett was the third-leading scorer among rookies last season at 14.3 PPG in 30.4 MPG while appearing in 56 games.
Knox’s playing time and production regressed dramatically in his second season, but the Knicks’ new regime thinks enough of him to lock in his salary through the next two seasons. He has averaged 9.9 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 140 career games.
Notably, the Knicks’ announcement didn’t mention recently-acquired big man Omari Spellman, the team’s other player with a 2021/22 rookie scale option. New York has until December 29 to make a decision on Spellman, but teams generally announce all their exercised options at once, so the team may be declining that one.
I thought Berman said that the Knicks liked Spellman and would make the team. Even Noel’s fragile start did not get him a serious look.
I like Spellman in theory because shooting is his forte. It would be a nice contrast to Mitchell Robinson. Noel looked great in the one preseason game but seems so similar to Robinson.
Noel is the perfect player to keep the center position honest since he’s so similar to Mitchell Robinson but Robinson steals and blocks better so he should start.