When the New York Knicks picked RJ Barrett as the No. 3 overall choice with in 2019 NBA draft, they clearly saw him as a key part of their future, and they made a pledge with that goal in mind on Monday.

Barrett and the Knicks are nearing an agreement on a four-year contract for up to $120 million, according to Barrett’s agent, Bill Duffy.

This agreement, as Wojnarowski pointed out, will have a huge influence on New York’s interest of Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell:

“One hundred percent. It’s also been a goal of mine” Barrett said of staying in New York long term in March, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “II’ve been trying to play my butt off and do everything out there to achieve that.”

Bondy further stated that no Knicks draft selection had signed a second deal with the franchise since Charlie Ward, therefore Barrett also assisted the team in breaking its “dubious streak.”

The guard, who assisted New York to the playoffs as a backup to Julius Randle in 2020-21, has showed promising indications while boosting his scoring totals each of his three seasons in the NBA.

He averaged 14.3 points per game as a rookie, 17.6 points per game as a junior, and 20.0 points per night this season as a player who could drive the basket off the dribble while still bringing rebound help (5.8 per game) from the backcourt.

Barrett will also be 22 years old for the 2022-23 season, thus sustained growth will only serve to boost his already lofty peak.

That isn’t to say there aren’t worries, as his accuracy is a concern after he shot 44.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from deep in 2020-21 but dropped to 40.8 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from long last season.

Barrett might not be the main option for a playoff team, but he is young and has improved as a volume scorer every year to this point. He is also used to playing under the limelight that New York provides, and he has previously voiced a desire to remain with the organization.