As the NBA trade deadline ticked to the end Thursday, there was mystery, maybe even in the Knicks’ front office, whether they could find an opportunity to snag a star to place beside Julius Randle. But the price was not right and the Knicks let the deadline go by with just a minor bit of roster tinkering.
Then hours later, RJ Barrett reminded the Knicks and their fans that perhaps that piece is already in place.
On a night when the Knicks were not at their best — actually for a half might have been at their worst considering the performance and the opponent, a Washington Wizards squad depleted by injury and trades — Barrett rescued them, not just with his play, but also with his emotion and energy.