Carmelo Anthony Calls RJ Barrett 'Just a Bland Player' After Knicks-Raptors Trade

New York Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony believes former Knick RJ Barrett is a "bland player," following Barrett's departure for the Toronto Raptors.

Anthony believes Barrett's game wasn't exciting and he often went unnoticed on the court.

"He's just a bland player bro. That's not a shot. That's not disrespect," Anthony said on 7PM in Brooklyn. "I ask a lot of people that who are Knicks fans…it's just like, he's good, he get it done sometimes, but he's not an exciting player. You don't know if he got four or 26."

Barrett was traded to the Raptors in December along with Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby. Barrett spent his first four seasons in the NBA with New York and averaged 18.2 points per game before the trade. Since joining the Raptors, he's put up 21.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Ultimately, Anthony believes Anunoby provides the same thing Barrett brought to the court, but with a willingness to take on a lesser role.

"OG could do the same thing RJ doing," Anthony said. "He just don't demand it the way RJ demanded to be a part of the offense. Like OG cool sitting on the wing…he's still gonna go play defense no matter what. Whereas RJ, he gotta score 20. You know what I'm saying? So where that 20's gonna come…you feel like 'I'm putting up 24, I'm the third option. I ain't really getting,' you know what I mean? Like 'man, I gotta go.' You know what I'm saying? Like he probably was feeling that…I'm sure he was questioning it"

Since joining the Knicks, Anunoby has put up 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The new look for the Knicks has worked well so far—they've won five of six games since the trade, having their win streak snapped by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

The Knicks are a middle of the pack team in the Eastern Conference, sitting in sixth place at 22-16, but they're looking for Anunoby to help them make the jump heading into the second half of the season.