Is RJ Barrett Trade Bait?

With the sudden availability of Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, New York is quite interested. But there could be a heavy price for the Knicks: RJ Barrett.

Barrett, as you will remember, is not just a Knicks player. He’s a hardcore fan and in many ways, he’s become the heart of the team.

He’s also a major fan favorite.

But everyone and everything has a cost. So is New York willing to go there? Depends on who you ask.

Some places started reporting Thursday that New York would not include Barrett in any trade.

Others suggest that Utah would prefer Miami’s Tyler Herro to Barrett, largely because he’s more offensively oriented and would be a better natural replacement for Mitchell.

The reality of the NBA is only a handful of players are too valuable or important to not be traded. Currently it’s maybe Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embeed, Jayson Tatum and a healthy Zion Williamson. That’s about it. Anyone else could be traded at any time.

But Barrett is in sort of a gray zone. He’s nowhere near that level, but his effort, heart and clear love of the New York Knicks make him difficult to trade. Very few players bond with a team and city the way that he has and trading a guy like that has some real risks, not least of all with the fan base.

• NBA Trade Rumors: Are New York Knicks Willing to Move RJ Barrett?
• Jazz prefer Tyler Herro to RJ Barrett in Donovan Mitchell trade talks
• Donovan Mitchell-Jalen Brunson combo would make Knicks fun again
• Report: RJ Barrett not included in Knicks potential Donovan Mitchell package
• Donovan Mitchell Trade Rumors: Tyler Herro Preferred to RJ Barrett by 1 Jazz Exec
• Member of Jazz front office more interested in Tyler Herro over RJ Barrett as piece in Mitchell trade?
• Member of Jazz front office more interested in Tyler Herro over RJ Barrett as piece in Mitchell trade?
• RJ Barrett, the third pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, was considered more valuable to the Knicks than the Jazz
• The Knicks need to move quickly on the Donovan Mitchell trade, but keep RJ Barrett out of the deal.
• NBA insider: Knicks won’t include R.J. Barrett in any Donovan Mitchell trade
• Knicks: 3 reasons New York must not include RJ Barrett in Donovan Mitchell trade offer to Jazz
• Donovan Mitchell Could Be Traded For RJ Barrett Or Tyler Herro
• 3 reasons the Knicks must include RJ Barrett in their trade proposal for Donovan Mitchell
• 3 reasons Knicks must include RJ Barrett in Donovan Mitchell trade offer
• Donovan Mitchell Rumors: Picks, Knicks, Barrett, Nets