It's How RJ Barrett develops, too

RJ Barrett's role matters as much as time on the floor

So once again: lots to like out of a Knicks loss, which is how this season will largely be defined. And no, I'm not just talking about this Frank Ntilikina shot, though I'm not not talking about it: 

Frank Ntilikina is the only NBA player who shoots at the end of quarters pic.twitter.com/wMoFBvFKyk

— Danny Small (@dwsmall8) October 30, 2019

But something caught my eye among the postgame interviews, this one with RJ Barrett. Marc Berman asked him whether he felt comfortable at point guard, where he spent much of his time in Orlando on Wednesday night.

Barrett's response? "I’ve played it before — whatever the team needs. Whenever they need me to do that, I’ll be there."

Barrett's already demonstrated a willingness to do just that. But it is worth stipulating a few things as the Knicks consider what it is they want from Barrett out of his rookie season.

For one thing: it's not really clear that the best version of RJ Barrett is going to be as a full-time point guard. He's handled himself well early on across the board, but things like organizing the offense and finding teammates in the less obvious spots on the floor have not been the areas he's excelled.

And he might well get there. But what he has done, early on, is display an ability to reach another gear when he's near the basket, rebound well for his position, and defend the bevy of 2/3s in this league.

All of which dovetails with the most obvious destination for Barrett on a roster that would presumably look far different from this one: a 2/3 who develops his three-point shot to the point that he is a significant offensive option on a contending team.

None of that is going to involve playing point guard. The only real reasons to play him there have to do with roster limitations of the current team — exacerbated by the injury to Elfrid Payton and Dennis Smith Jr.'s tragic family loss, to be sure, but let's not forget Barrett started at essentially point guard on opening night, too.

So as the Knicks consider how to best utilize those who David Fizdale has on hand, there simply must be deeper considerations with Barrett than there would be for, say, Wayne Ellington, whose NBA role is already carved out, and who might, but certainly musnt't for sure, be part of the long-term solution in New York.

Will Barrett do whatever is asked of him? 

Clearly.

Should the Knicks think long and hard about what it is they ask of him, for the greater good of all involved? Even if that role might not optimize this roster?

Certainly.