From the moment the Kawhi Leonard trade was made official and the aging superstar was due to complete his move to the Toronto Raptors, many started looking at getting RJ Barrett a one-way ticket out of the city. Why the rush?
Sure, it is fair to have some immediate questions about the fit. If the Raptors offense is going to be largely built around Kawhi and Scottie Barnes, how much is left over for Barrett? That is a reasonable question to have. It is also one that deserves a proper opportunity to get answered.
Trading Barrett now does not make much sense for the Raptors. Unless they are overwhelmingly concerned about the fit from the get-go, Toronto can afford to play this one out and hold off on their next major move until the 2027 NBA trade deadline.
That is not to say the possibility of a Barrett trade should be eliminated altogether. It can still be a consideration. However, the Raptors should collect a reasonable sample size of what this all looks like with Leonard in the mix before rushing to make a move that significantly overhauls how they operate.
RJ Barrett's offensive fit post-Kawhi Leonard trade could be better than expected
Barrett has proven himself reasonably adaptable over his time in Toronto. With Leonard being far more malleable than Brandon Ingram was from an offensive standpoint, the fit may not prove to be nearly as clunky as anticipated.
That is part of why the Raptors can afford to play this one out. Barrett's aggressiveness in attacking the basket can even serve as an excellent compliment that keeps Barnes and Leonard from getting overly taxed on offense. It takes the pressure off them being forced to constantly collapse defenses.
For some, it is just too difficult to overlook the disappointing 3-point percentage of last season in terms of evaluating the fit. 33.9 percent from beyond the arc is certainly not a pretty number. Neither was the 34.7 percent on catch-and-shoot triples.
However, Leonard should improve the quality of the looks Barrett is getting by just being on the floor. Kawhi is a much bigger offensive threat than BI was. That is bound to draw defenders even further away from RJ.
When Barrett was shooting his 3-point looks with his closest defender being six or more feet away last season, his percentage was a respectable 36.9. If there are more of those shots to go around in 2026-27, RJ could fit much more comfortably off the ball on offense than the initial projection.
Raptors must take their time to evaluate the idea of an RJ Barrett trade
There are trades and trade candidates out there who will undeniably call out to the Raptors. There are two things Toronto must assure themselves of in the process — Barrett does not fit the long-term plans and the return package pushes them closer to a title.
2026-27 is a contract year for RJ. That part of this conversation should not be lost on anyone. Not having an extension in place is the Raptors quietly signaling they do still have doubts about Barrett's future in Toronto.
If they do deem trading RJ to be a necessary move, the return package has to give them a better chance to compete during the playoffs. Whether that means rounding out the roster, or pushing for a different starter who fits better, the Raptors must be thinking about getting one step closer to a title.
By February of 2027, Toronto should have a better idea of what they need to strengthen the roster. They should also better understand the functionality of their current group.
If the final pre-deadline evaluation concludes the Raptors are better off without Barrett, they will know. Right now, that is a hypothetical. They need a definitive sample size to work with before jumping the gun on anything drastic.
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