As members of Raptors Nation, we find ourselves right back to the conversation surrounding RJ Barrett. While he experienced what many considered a breakout career year this past season, he has also been a striking name frequently thrown around in NBA trade rumor circles.
RJ Barrett's name sparks Raptors trade buzz again
From an outside perspective, the simplest explanation for Toronto's quick decision to trade a player who has largely become one of the Raptors’ primary offensive options is to ask: why act so hastily? Even if his journey to scoring 18, 19, or 20+ points wasn’t always smooth or efficient, he still established a significant role on the team. I even highlighted the continued faith in his ability to be a complementary offensive piece alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram moving forward.
But it's the somewhat overlapping skill set Barrett offers as a wing/forward, combined with the eventual contract extension he's certainly earned, that makes things a bit murky. Even though Toronto is his hometown, the Raptors might not be the ideal long-term NBA fit where Barrett can truly let his game flourish.
Here's where NBA insider Jake Fischer returns, providing fresh insights into RJ Barrett's future with the Toronto Raptors on his latest "NBA Offseason News and Scoops | Insider Notebook" livestream for Bleacher Report on YouTube:
"And we've talked about this before: RJ Barrett is certainly a name that I would tell you and Raptors fans to be on the lookout for as a potential trade candidate going out the door, with his roughly $30 million in salary, to go out and be a major buyer and see what they can achieve with RJ Barrett's salary. He was someone the Raptors discussed with the Pelicans in that Brandon Ingram trade conversation, which did not result in RJ Barrett heading out of Canada. He was not someone the Pelicans had much interest in at the time, but RJ Barrett's representation is fully aware that he is someone who could be discussed in trades moving forward for the Raptors."Jake Fischer, Aug 20, 2025
Any time we hear reports like this, I believe we should take them with a grain of salt, especially considering Fischer’s own admission that similar conversations have taken place before and led nowhere.
But, the fact that Barrett's agents and representatives know he could be rerouted elsewhere at any moment this upcoming season points to a clear reality: the outlook for his tenure with the Raptors doesn’t look very promising — and honestly, it’s been that way for quite some time. We just need a concrete answer to settle the matter once and for all.