RJ Barrett's injury status and update ahead of Raptors opener vs Cavaliers

At long last, the season starts tonight for the Toronto Raptors. Depending on who you ask, the Raptors either have the rising stars to push for the playoffs or a paper-thin bench that will doom them to the bottom of the standings.

Whatever happens in the win column, this season - and particularly the opening weeks - are crucial for seeing how the "BBQ" core fits together. Can a team built on Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley contend in the Eastern Conference? That question likely won't be answered definitively this season, but this year will decide a lot of Toronto's future.

Yet that opportunity for the core to play together may be delayed, because the Raptors could be without a key player tonight as they open the season against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Is RJ Barrett playing tonight?

RJ Barrett injured his shoulder in the preseason opener after a scorching start, scoring 17 points in 14 minutes before exiting the game. He has been rehabbing the shoulder ever since, and has been a limited participant in practice the last few days.

Although there was some optimism at times that Barrett might make it back for the season opener, that slim hope was crushed on Tuesday afternoon when it was announced that Barrett was listed as OUT for Wednesday's game. He will have another chance to make it onto the court Friday in Philadelphia against the 76ers.

Which other Raptors are injured?

Unfortunately for Toronto, Barrett is not the only player on the injury report. Rookie first-round pick Ja'Kobe Walter suffered the same injury as Barrett, although likely of a higher severity, and missed the entire preseason. He remains out for at least another week.

Veteran guard Bruce Brown Jr. is recovering from offseason knee surgery that he and the Raptors waited until September to have, likely hoping that it would heal on its own. That didn't happen, and Brown is now reportedly still a month away from resuming normal basketball activities.

Kelly Olynyk, meantime is hopeful to return in the next couple of games, but is OUT for the Cavaliers game on opening night. He is nursing a back injury, and his absence makes the big rotation perilously thin to start the year.

Cavaliers injury report

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without starting small forward Max Strus. The veteran wing suffered a sprained ankle that will keep him out at least six weeks. In his absence, it's expected that Dean Wade would step up to start, but it's also possible the Cavs go small with Isaac Okoro.

Tip-off for the game is 7:30 pm ET tonight.