After the Toronto Raptors and Scottie Barnes agreed to a new rookie extension that will pay the young forward the maximum salary possible over the next five years, it seemed almost certain that Toronto would then turn its attention to getting a deal done with restricted free agent point guard Immanuel Quickley.
That deal was announced on Friday, and it came in at a number higher than expected: five years, $175 million. The contract, which will begin this year, will go out to 2028-29 and includes no options for either side.
Toronto was always going to sign Quickley
The Raptors acquired Quickley during last season as the centerpiece of the OG Anunoby trade return, coming to Toronto alongside RJ Barrett and the No. 31 pick in the draft (used on San Francisco forward Jonathan Mogbo). It's somewhat fitting, then, that the two players both agreed to new deals within days of one another: Quickley for $175 million over five years, Anunoby $213 million over five.
Quickley just turned 25 years old and played extremely well for the Raptors in a starting role once coming over, averaging 18.6 points and 6.8 assists while maintaining the efficiency that made him so impactful as a backup in New York, shooting 39.5 percent from deep on increased volume and shot difficulty.
The Raptors' large contract they agreed to with Quickley reveals two things about the team: that they had both faith and fear when it came to their young point guard.