After a mini-rebuild, the Toronto Raptors are aiming to compete for a playoff spot this season. Regardless of some fairly blatant tanking final season, Toronto acquired Brandon Ingram from New Orleans previous to the commerce deadline after which signed him to an extension. Ingram is anticipated to be a core piece alongside Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, and Immanuel Quickley.
With Ingram anticipated to be wholesome and able to go for coaching camp, the Raptors immediately have a logjam of their ahead rotation. With Ingram and Barnes anticipated to command excessive utilization together with Gradey Dick, and the newly drafted Collin Murray-Boyles able to contribute, Toronto has to make a transfer to unlock minutes. This implies making a troublesome choice relating to a starter from final season.
It’s time for the Raptors to maneuver on from ahead RJ Barrett
Barrett was the headliner from the OG Anunoby commerce late in 2023 and was anticipated to be part of Toronto’s new core for the longer term.
Barrett has plateaued as a participant during the last couple seasons. His counting stats have remained about the identical: 21 factors per recreation, six rebounds, and about 5 assists per recreation. His effectivity in his first full season with the Raptors is subpar throughout the board.
He solely had a 55 % true-shooting proportion and shot beneath league common on the rim, above-the-break threes, and nook threes, and made solely 37 % of his soar pictures.
Barrett can also be not a optimistic defender, as Toronto posted a 115.0 defensive score with him on the court docket and a -3.5 internet score. Three of the Raptors’ 5 worst lineups featured Barrett on the court docket, and the online scores have been -19.1, -8.4, and -3.3, respectively.
Toronto has a redundancy not solely on the wing
Barnes and Ingram are set to command plenty of touches subsequent season. Quickley may even have a major on-ball function this season. Dick, Murray-Boyles, and Ja’Kobe Walter have to be developed and are prone to have vital roles in both the beginning lineup or off the bench.
Barrett led the Raptors with a 28.6 % utilization fee, adopted by Barnes with a 27 % utilization fee. Quickley and Dick have been at 25 and 21 %, respectively. Ingram has been hovering between 28 % and 30 % utilization for the final 5 seasons. Having 4 gamers with at the very least a 25 % utilization and having different guys that want improvement is simply not sensible.
Barrett just isn’t an off-ball participant. He’s too weak of a shooter to be deployed in that means. Buying and selling him for a 3-and-D wing archetype, or extra frontcourt depth behind Poeltl, can be the prudent factor for Toronto to do.
The Raptors have made it clear that they purpose to be within the playoff combine this season. With a number of playoff spots up for grabs within the East, buying and selling Barrett for a better-fitting piece would assist them get again to the massive dance.
