New York Knicks' RJ Barrett Better Off the Bench?

The New York Knicks could have a troubling, if not intriguing, decision to make when it comes to the fate of RJ Barrett.

The New York Knicks selected RJ Barrett with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, He's been solid since then, but some have wondered if he has played to the expectations of a No. 3 pick. 

Barrett has averaged 18.1 points per game in his first four seasons with the Knicks, but his percentages (34 percent from three-point range, 42 percent from the field overall) have left a bit to be desired. Going into his fifth season in the league, a new approach might be the best option for the Knicks and Barrett going forward.

Among three "bold" predictions for the Knicks' 2023-24 season, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post feels that head coach Tom Thibodeau could bring Barrett off the bench, even with the Duke alum set to enter the first stage of a four-year, $120 million extension. This, he claims, would help the second unit, as then they would have a solidified leader within the second unit. Additionally, Bondy hints that second-year Quentin Grimes would have heightened opportunities to make a bigger impact.

The impact that RJ Barrett has for the New York Knicks could be heightened if he was brought off the bench / © Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY

"The Knicks certainly didn’t use a third overall pick and a near-max extension for a reserve. But Barrett makes sense with the second unit," Bondy wrote. "It’d mean less minutes for the 23-year-old wing but can help unlock Quentin Grimes, who has demonstrated promise as a playmaker and needs more opportunities with the ball."

Grimes established himself as the team's primary shooting guard in the early stages of last season, averaging 11.3 points on over 46 percent from the field. If he continues this improvement and keeps showing how important he could be, bringing Barrett off the bench could be something to consider.

The Knicks will get their first chance to implement something like this when they open the regular season tonight against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).