Knicks president Leon Rose officially announced the contract extension of RJ Barrett on Friday, calling him a “core piece of our team’s foundation.”
He better be hardcore because the Knicks won’t be getting Donovan Mitchell, who reportedly is heading to the Cavaliers for a package of five first-round picks, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji.
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Three of the first-round picks were unprotected — which was the sticking point in negotiations with the Knicks. Utah’s CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge at first wanted four unprotected first-round picks but settled for three.
“They thought they had Ainge and Utah over the barrel,” one league source said. “They held back on best offers of picks and players and Danny got his three…
