No. 3 – New York Knicks:
Zachary Padmore: R.J. Barrett. (Duke)
“Knicks fans were devastated not to land the top pick in this years draft, but they’re going to have to settle for third. This isn’t an easy pick, but R.J. Barrett would make a lot of sense here for New York. He was overshadowed a bit during his time at Duke by Zion Williamson, but Barrett has star potential in his own right.
Barrett is a well-rounded scorer, but will need to improve his efficiency and shot selection. One thing he has that you can’t teach is heart. He’s a hard worker that will leave it all on the court each and every night, and I think fans will love and appreciate his effort. It may not be Zion, but Barrett is a great fallback option. I think he will be a star in this league.”
Giovanni Spillman: R.J. Barrett. (Duke)
“We can only feel for the Knicks after they lost their shot at the #1 overall pick. With the Knicks scrambling to find someone else, I think R.J. Barrett will fall right into their lap, and he will provide a lot of help at the two and three spot for the Knicks. Due to his natural ability to score, he could be an instant starter.”