Knicks · I'm not a long term buyer of RJ's high level potential/talent (page 1)

martin @ 1/7/2021 1:30 PM
He will have some flashes and maybe some good runs but I just don't see it right now. It's early, yada yada and a lot can change but I just am not convinced.

Slow, deliberate athlete. Not a natural shooter at all. Not a natural passer at all. Can have games where he shoots OK and passes very well but they are more forced or mechanical for me.

He has the personality and work mentality to succeed but just not the natural talent to really reach heights.

This is through the lens of the 3rd pick who has been touted as a big potential player with lots of talent.

My opinion for now.

Knixkik @ 1/7/2021 1:48 PM
He may very well end up being a jack of all trades, master of none. But I still think he's a high level starter with star potential. Reaching that potential is the question like with any player, but he has a high floor. He also gets bonus potential points for being a 6'7 playmaking, 2-way wing, a type of player profile that seems to be the most valuable in the league.
GustavBahler @ 1/7/2021 1:51 PM
Believe you're underselling RJ's drive, determination. Barrett made some key stops late vs Utah. Shouldnt be measured only by elite athleticism.
martin @ 1/7/2021 2:02 PM
GustavBahler wrote:Believe you're underselling RJ's drive, determination. Barrett made some key stops late vs Utah. Shouldnt be measured only by elite athleticism.

I didn't at all use this measuring stick

foosballnick @ 1/7/2021 2:44 PM
martin wrote:He will have some flashes and maybe some good runs but I just don't see it right now. It's early, yada yada and a lot can change but I just am not convinced.

Slow, deliberate athlete. Not a natural shooter at all. Not a natural passer at all. Can have games where he shoots OK and passes very well but they are more forced or mechanical for me.

He has the personality and work mentality to succeed but just not the natural talent to really reach heights.

This is through the lens of the 3rd pick who has been touted as a big potential player with lots of talent.

My opinion for now.

The nature of young players is inconsistency/mistakes. As such, some guys are super athletic and/or flashy and we as fans get caught up in the allure of their flashiness - even when they are inconsistent or not producing. RJ is a grounded kid who comes across as older than his actual age, so some fall into the trap of expecting him to be more lake a vet than a 20 year old neophyte.

RJ is not super athletic, nor flashy nor super smooth....so he comes across as mechanical to some. He had a bad game last night and was blocked going to the rim multiple times as well as missing a number of 3 ptrs. I'm still high on his upside and especially so given his work ethic and seemingly level headed nature. Also, I'll trust Thibs on this......if a very reputable coach keeps putting him out there every game - leading the league in mpg.....there must be something he sees that us fans can't.

fishmike @ 1/7/2021 2:49 PM
Im an RJ buyer. I see someone who is already a high end defender. Average handle and jury is out if he's every a consistent shooter. But I love his ability to get the basket and make plays. At 20 I love his mental make and work ethic. I have no doubt he's a stud under Thibs. Strikes me as a match made in heaven.

I think RJ/Mitch are the high ceiling guys, and I mean really high. Like RJ = a Jimmy Butler/Iguodala hybrid and Mitch is Camby/Tyson Chandler. IQ looks great but its early and Obi might be the most talented one on the roster.

I think RJ would also look much better not sandwiched by Elf/Reggie who earn him ZERO space.

mikesknicks @ 1/7/2021 3:37 PM
I'm still a big RJ believer but I wish he could be more consistent but it is only his second year after a long layoff.
HofstraBBall @ 1/7/2021 4:12 PM
We may be influenced by the nature of todays NBA and the speed at which some of these young athletes go from a 18 year old college ball players to elite NBA stars.
I did feel that RJ is given a bit too much credit and high rating after just one average year. I also felt that Burks and Rivers may be better options, at times, for some of his many minutes. However, do feel that he will be a very good player. Maybe not an elite All Star but a top three player on a good team. And of course, a higher ceiling is possible as no one really knows what a 20 year old's ceiling truly is. Think what we are seeing is normal growing pains for most first and second year players. Who are never anywhere near perfect. He needs to improve his 3pt shooting. The first game showed he has the potential to be a very good shooter. He is definitely not quick and explosive but has that James Harden type of savvy getting to the hoop. He has good basketball IQ. And very good composure for a young kid. I for one am hoping that he develops into an All Star. But also think it is okay to sit the kid down when he is yanking up 3pt shots with little success. More concerned about Knox. Who has yet to show anything but an occasional outside shooting streak.
EwingsGlass @ 1/7/2021 4:19 PM
I’m more concerned with his co-existence with Randle than his upside. Now, I’m not married to Randle or Barrett and the romantic in me wants to see our #3 pick succeed. But if Thibs offense is formulated through the post and the preference is to run it through a big, like Randle, than that lineup would benefit more from a 3&D than Barrett.

My love of Barrett is that I think he can improve his shot still. In my head he has a T-Mac type trajectory where it may take a few years for him to develop that shooting, but with his size, he can run an offense from the 2 out of the low post and still step outside to hit a consistent 3. That second part is currently questionable.

In my head, I’m comparing him to Demar Derozan. Without knocking DD, swapping him for a 3D (perhaps the best 3&D) resulted in a championship.

I’m looking for RJ to improve his shot and want him to have 3 years or so to do it. 2 left...

StarksEwing1 @ 1/7/2021 4:22 PM
I don’t see him being a superstar but I think he will be a very good player which is fine for me.
BRIGGS @ 1/7/2021 4:31 PM
I like the feel of the team as a whole
He’s not a great shooter but he’s got great attitude and he does many good things. Right now as long as he’s a solid member of winning— we’re good.
fitzfarm @ 1/7/2021 4:33 PM
RJ just needs to hit the gym and focus on becoming a close to 35-40% 3pt shooter... with practice I think he can achieve this ... if achieved he will be a super star ... also would like to see us sign demar derozan as a back up/vet... I see a lot of DD in Barrett
jskinny35 @ 1/7/2021 5:09 PM
With Thibs as the coach - it's hard to not see another Jimmy Butler in a few years - both good to very good athletes, erratic shooting at times, solid defensively... most importantly I see maturity and a strong work ethic which makes me hopeful he will squeeze every ounce of ability as he develops in the next 2-3 years. Easy to root for a young player like this compared to the athletically gifted but often immature/entitled players that seem more common these days.
GustavBahler @ 1/7/2021 5:13 PM
martin wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:Believe you're underselling RJ's drive, determination. Barrett made some key stops late vs Utah. Shouldnt be measured only by elite athleticism.

I didn't at all use this measuring stick

Slow, deliberate athlete

First thing you said about RJ's skill set.

ekstarks94 @ 1/7/2021 5:21 PM
I like RJ....he had $hit coaching & development last year....he will get his shot together in time....he is not an uber athlete but he can get to the rim .....good defender....can do more than his share of playmaking...and rebound well for his position.

The problem is that he is being judged under the lens of the Zion and Ja before him...but there ius a cavern between the 2nd and 3rd pick in that draft...still I consider RJ the 3rd best player in that draft so far...not just based on current performance but untapped potential considering the dumpster fire we were last year and then covid wiping out 9 mths.

Chandler @ 1/7/2021 5:56 PM
High on RJ but he needs more consistency at line and field. i'd prefer to see him do more Reggie Lewis midrange than shooting 3s

in related news, do people still think Zion is Lebron 2.0 -- I don't

knicks1248 @ 1/7/2021 6:17 PM
RJ is a slasher, play maker, who can also rebound,

I think his ceiling is about as high as jalen Rose. He definitely has the potential to be a consistent 20/5/5 guy

BigDaddyG @ 1/7/2021 6:26 PM
knicks1248 wrote:RJ is a slasher, play maker, who can also rebound,

I think his ceiling is about as high as jalen Rose. He definitely has the potential to be a consistent 20/5/5 guy

Jalen is an interesting comp. He didn't really take off until he was 27. Even then, he shot better than RJ in his first two seasons, albeit in less minutes on a better team. I think Jimmy Butler is better comp, a guy who developed. His three ball just enough to make the rest of his game flow easier. He's a career 33% three-point shooter, but that's just enough for defenses to have to guard you. Also, the Jimmy Butler we know now didn't really pop until his fourth season. That might need to be the pathway RJ needs to follow in order to be a "star."

martin @ 1/7/2021 6:28 PM
GustavBahler wrote:
martin wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:Believe you're underselling RJ's drive, determination. Barrett made some key stops late vs Utah. Shouldnt be measured only by elite athleticism.

I didn't at all use this measuring stick

Slow, deliberate athlete

First thing you said about RJ's skill set.

Statement of fact. I’m not holding him to that, not my measuring stick.

GustavBahler @ 1/7/2021 6:55 PM
martin wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:
martin wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:Believe you're underselling RJ's drive, determination. Barrett made some key stops late vs Utah. Shouldnt be measured only by elite athleticism.

I didn't at all use this measuring stick

Slow, deliberate athlete

First thing you said about RJ's skill set.

Statement of fact. I’m not holding him to that, not my measuring stick.

Sounded very measuring sticky.

Allanfan20 @ 1/7/2021 8:07 PM
Disagree about his passing. I think he’s a very good passer despite the high number of TOs last night. Overall, he hasn’t been turning the ball over and he usually makes good decisions.

His defense at least seems to be improving and he has better rebounding numbers. He seems like a leader. He is a keeper.

I am buying. The RJB shares will rise high long term.

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