Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
LAS VEGAS - If you're making sweeping conclusions about RJ Barrett after two Summer League games, you're overreacting.
"Of course the Knicks would like to see him come out and dominate in these games against guys who won't be in the NBA. That's what you'd expect from the No. 3 pick. But there's no reason to sound any alarms," one veteran scout said Monday. "He's 19 and this is what Summer League - and his rookie season, really - is for. It's about development and getting comfortable on an NBA floor."
With that said, it's fair to analyze what Barrett has done on the floor thus far. He's shooting a combined 7-for-33 with 10 turnovers and two assists.
Dozens of scouts and execs watched Barrett's first two games in Vegas. We asked a few to discuss what they've seen so far from the rookie:
Scout: "I haven't seen him play fast or really blow off the floor on a drive yet. He hasn't looked explosive off the dribble. Maybe some of that is due to a layoff between his college games and Summer League games. But he wasn't overly fast at Duke. He did well in bullying opponents with his size and strength at that level. Can that translate well to the NBA? Or will he need to make adjustments? That's another reason to not get overly excited about two Summer League games. He's going to gain strength and can get faster over time."
Scout: "I've watched RJ since he was in high school and he always plays extremely hard. And despite his shooting struggles, we've seen that in his first two games in Vegas. Look at his (10) rebounds from the other night. He has a great motor. That's why I think he'll reach his potential at this level - whatever that ultimately is. I'm not worried about him putting in the work to maximize his talent."
Scout: "He's gotten some decent looks from the perimeter but his shot doesn't have a ton of arc and seems heavy. Maybe some of that is nerves, but the looks have been there for him. He's also forced some shots and missed open teammates. You'd think those reads come with experience."
Scout: "He's looked a little stiff at times in these first two games. Is that because of nerves? Or is that what he is? I didn't see a lot of bouncy athleticism from him in the first two games. Maybe that was just a product of him being a bit nervous. I'm not sure."
Scout: "There's no reason to get caught up too much in Summer League in general, particularly after just two games. What you can't measure with these guys - what we don't see in the stands or on tape - is what's inside of them. Their heart. What drives them. Are they obsessed with being great? Or are they content with making NBA money? Does that make them complacent? You get the sense that RJ is the kind of person that's driven to be great. But that's one of those variables that we can't measure."
Good deal for Iggy: The Knicks signed second rounder Iggy Brazdeikis to a three-year deal pays him $898,000 in Year 1, $1.5 million in Year 2 and $1.8 million in the final season, which is a team option, SNY has confirmed. New York has roughly $3 million left in cap space and a $4.7 million exception. The New York Post first reported the details of Brazdeikis' deal.