Despite RJ Barrett's impressive performance in the 2024-25 season, the Raptors are far from a sure destination for the "Maple Mamba" in the near future.
The arrival of Brandon Ingram has added further uncertainty to Barrett's situation, especially with rumors suggesting that he was mentioned in trade offers at the deadline, stirring the pot even more.
What will happen to RJ Barrett in the 2025 offseason?
It's not a certainty that Barrett will be traded, but many in Raptors Nation see the writing on the wall, and I’m definitely among them. I’d love to see what this wing-heavy core could accomplish together, at least for a little while, before pulling the plug.
Remember that "Point Guardians of the Galaxy" lineup in Phoenix a few years back with Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas? Sure, things didn’t pan out long-term, and in hindsight, that idea was pretty questionable. I’d even argue that pairing a trio of wings together surpasses a trio of guards by a wide margin. However, I can also understand the clunky nature of the current Raptors roster construction.
Clearly, I'm not the only basketball commentator pondering the Raptors' next move regarding Barrett. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report NBA recently proposed a bold trade idea in his piece titled "2025 Offseason NBA Trade Idea to Move RJ Barrett."
He suggested that the Raptors reach out to the rebuilding Washington Wizards to gauge their interest in acquiring the young scoring forward in exchange for a proven veteran.
The complete details of the trade scenario, as outlined by Eric Pincus, are as follows:
Pincus further notes that a trade of this nature cannot be completed "until July 6 (after the annual moratorium), as the Wizards are too close to their first-apron hard cap through the end of June."
Pincus lays out in his piece why the Raptors and Wizards would explore the prospects of this trade, respectively. For Toronto, he says they do it because "...Toronto will need to shed salary if it hopes to avoid the luxury tax. The Raptors haven't paid the tax since 2018-19, when Kawhi Leonard led them to their only championship in franchise history. They shouldn't be one of the NBA's worst teams next season, but it's a leap to suggest the front office should be dipping into the tax for a non-contender."
For the Wizards, Pincus notes, "The franchise will continue to add and develop young players until a buildable core emerges." He adds that "Given his age and the price for the Wizards, giving up an older veteran guard and a second-round pick swap for a look at Barrett seems like a win-win. His salary wouldn't push the Wizards into the tax, and his contract is relatively short (through 2026-27)."
Now that we understand the motivations behind Pincus' trade proposal, let's take a closer look at how this trade could play out for both the Raptors and the Wizards, from my perspective.
I’m not completely against the idea of this trade, but it doesn't excite me much either. I really like Marcus Smart; he embodies the veteran presence that I’ve been hoping the Raptors would finally pursue. While this trade does save the Raptors some money—about $5.3 million below the tax line, as Pincus notes—it comes at the cost of one of their top scoring players.
Sure, you could argue that Ingram could easily slide into that Barrett spot, and it could work out. But is Marcus Smart, a trade exception, and a meaningless pick swap really all the Raptors can get for a consistent year shown by RJ Barrett? Surely there’s a team out there willing to offer more than what the Wizards have.
However, Pincus points out in his article that "The test will be the market for Barrett, almost 25, who is likely too pricey for most teams with $57.3-64.3 million due over the next two seasons."
Perhaps the spirited Raptors fan in me is taking over, and I'm assuming Masai Ujiri can once again find the perfect trade partner to secure his usual heist-like haul. However, that might not be the case with Barrett, even though he's not necessarily a negative asset.
I can envision a scenario where the Wizards become the ideal destination for Barrett to thrive as his usual high-scoring, high-usage self. This move could enhance his trade value even more as his contract approaches its expiration, giving Washington the opportunity to flip him for additional assets down the line.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, Smart might step into a role similar to that of Bruce Brown, who served as the perfect veteran supporting piece before being traded.
At first glance, it may appear that there's little to gain, but as Pincus himself noted, both teams certainly stand to benefit. I think the Wizards might get a bit more out of this deal, but hey, you can't win them all. We'll have to wait until the offseason to see if a trade like this is what the Raptors consider the best option for shedding RJ Barrett's salary.