Reported NBA Trade Sends Duke Basketball Product Back:

It appears the New York Knicks (17-14 this season) no longer boast a Duke basketball talent on their roster. According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday afternoon, the franchise has agreed to trade Toronto native RJ Barrett, its No. 3 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, to the Toronto Raptors (12-19).

New York is reportedly packaging the 23-year-old guard with Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick to receive OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.

Three former Blue Devils were signed by the Knicks at one point in the previous campaign: Barrett, forward Cam Reddish, who is currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and guard Trevor Keels, who is currently playing in the G League on a two-way contract as a rookie and was a teammate of Barrett’s at Duke in 2018–19.

With 26 games played, RJ Barrett is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists for the 2023–24 Knicks.

As things look at the moment, he’ll join a Toronto roster that includes another Blue Devil in 2017-18 Duke guard Gary Trent Jr., a former second-round draft pick averaging 11.1 points, 2.3 boards, and 1.6 dimes in his fourth season with the Raptors.

Toronto now becomes the sixth team currently employing at least two NBA Blue Devils.

 

The Raptors join that list alongside the Atlanta Hawks (Jalen Johnson, AJ Griffin), Brooklyn Nets (Harry Giles, Dariq Whitehead), New Orleans Pelicans (Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram), Orlando Magic (Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.), and the lone franchise with three in the Dallas Mavericks (Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Seth Curry).