Carmelo Anthony expressed his opinion on the trade involving RJ Barrett at the Knicks, revealing that he is not particularly a fan of the shooting guard’s performance. During his podcast “7PM in Brooklyn”, the former player, who has a special connection with the New York Knicks, tried to approach the negotiation in a political way, but was unable to hide his criticisms.
He described Barrett as a player without much emotion, mentioning that, although he is skilled, he cannot excite the crowd. Anthony highlighted the unpredictability of Barrett’s performance, pointing out that he can score both four and 26 points in a game, as well as commenting on the player’s “bland” personality.
The trade involved Barrett and Immanuel Quickley being sent to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for OG Anunoby. Anthony argued that Anunoby is a better fit for the Knicks because he can play a similar role to Barrett without requiring as significant a role in the offense. He praised Anunoby’s defensive ability and suggested that Barrett, by contrast, needed to score his 20 points to feel like he was contributing.
Anthony believes the trade will benefit Anunoby, considering Barrett, as the third offensive option behind Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, might not be the best choice for the Knicks. He speculated that Barrett was already thinking about finding more space on another team, and the trade could serve the interests of both parties.