After a mini-rebuild, the Toronto Raptors are aiming to compete for a playoff spot this season. Despite some pretty blatant tanking last season, Toronto acquired Brandon Ingram from New Orleans prior to the trade deadline and then signed him to an extension. Ingram is expected to be a core piece alongside Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, and Immanuel Quickley.
With Ingram expected to be healthy and ready to go for training camp, the Raptors suddenly have a logjam in their forward rotation. With Ingram and Barnes expected to command high usage along with Gradey Dick, and the newly drafted Collin Murray-Boyles ready to contribute, Toronto has to make a move to free up minutes. This means making a tough decision regarding a starter from last season.
It’s time for the Raptors to move on from forward RJ Barrett
Barrett was the headliner from the OG Anunoby trade late in 2023 and was expected to be a part of Toronto’s new core for the future.
Barrett has plateaued as a player over the last couple seasons. His counting stats have remained about the same: 21 points per game, six rebounds, and about five assists per game. His efficiency in his first full season with the Raptors is subpar across the board.
He only had a 55 percent true-shooting percentage and shot below league average at the rim, above-the-break threes, and corner threes, and made only 37 percent of his jump shots.
Barrett is also not a positive defender, as Toronto posted a 115.0 defensive rating with him on the court and a -3.5 net rating. Three of the Raptors’ five worst lineups featured Barrett on the court, and the net ratings were -19.1, -8.4, and -3.3, respectively.
Toronto has a redundancy not only on the wing
Barnes and Ingram are set to command a lot of touches next season. Quickley will also have a significant on-ball role this season. Dick, Murray-Boyles, and Ja’Kobe Walter need to be developed and are likely to have significant roles in either the starting lineup or off the bench.
Barrett led the Raptors with a 28.6 percent usage rate, followed by Barnes with a 27 percent usage rate. Quickley and Dick were at 25 and 21 percent, respectively. Ingram has been hovering between 28 percent and 30 percent usage for the last five seasons. Having four players with at least a 25 percent usage and having other guys that need development is just not smart.
Barrett is not an off-ball player. He is too weak of a shooter to be deployed in that way. Trading him for a 3-and-D wing archetype, or more frontcourt depth behind Poeltl, would be the prudent thing for Toronto to do.
The Raptors have made it clear that they aim to be in the playoff mix this season. With multiple playoff spots up for grabs in the East, trading Barrett for a better-fitting piece would help them get back to the big dance.
