The majority of the Toronto Raptors' offseason has been clouded by what felt like a never-ending Kawhi Leonard-Los Angeles Clippers saga. With the NBA finalizing its decision on Leonard and the Clippers' punishments, the Leonard deal is now expected to be made official in the coming days.
The unfortunate part about all this is how long the entire process took, as the offseason is almost over and the Raptors are now slated to play a risky RJ Barrett game.
With Barrett in the final year of his contract, fans were mostly split on what his future looked like entering this offseason. If you were like me, it felt like after the playoff run he had, and given the value of other players on the roster, selling high should’ve been the path Toronto took. If you were on the other side, you felt that his playoff performance provided exactly why he was worthy of a long-term extension. What path nobody wanted to see was the path taken: do nothing.
Although technically speaking, Toronto hasn’t missed its window to extend Barrett, as Toronto can still negotiate an extension with him during the season, but training camp is right around the corner. With this team having title aspirations in 2026-27, the focus at this point of the offseason is likely strictly basketball. On top of that, Toronto has two other important contract situations to monitor: a likely extension upon Kawhi Leonard's arrival and Jamal Shead's status as an upcoming RFA.
The Raptors are now in a dangerous place with Barrett
I get that this offseason took a hectic turn, and no one could’ve really predicted how long the NBA’s investigation would delay Leonard’s arrival in Toronto. However, that can’t be an excuse for why no decision was made on Barrett’s future with the Raptors. Toronto is entering territory where Barrett could walk next offseason for nothing, leaving the Raptors with a massive hole in their core. Or they run the risk of him having another incredible year and asking for way more money before his June 30, 2027 contract extension deadline hits.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t love his fit alongside Scottie Barnes and Leonard, but this team is way better with him on it than they are without him.
Barrett averaged 24.1 points per game, shot 38.6 percent from three, and had a game-winner in Toronto’s round one matchup with the Cavaliers. His trade value may never be higher in his career than it was after the Raptors got bounced in seven games. They could’ve flipped him early this summer for two quality rotation pieces or an upgrade at that starting two-guard spot that fits the makeup of this team better.
Instead, they sit here with no extension signed, no trade made, and a potentially damaged relationship between him and the organization because no decision has been made about his future as a Raptor.
I get this has been a busy and chaotic offseason for the Raptors, but the way they mishandled RJ Barrett and his future with the team this summer is really bad work by Bobby Webster and the front office.
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