Official RJ Barrett Thread

[Boogie!]

Right move meaning the idea, not necessarily the execution. You also have to keep in mind this was the Tampa tank, so they didn't have Barnes yet. Trying to rebuild around Siakam/FVV/OG/Norm would've been very challenging.

But building around siakam/fvv/og/trent is less challenging?

Obviously you wouldn't just stop at trading Norm, the strategy would've been to continue the rebuild by moving out the vets. I tend to think that was loosely the plan until the FO started believing Scottie could be that star.

It was not loosely the plan considering they signed fvv to an extension right after and were about to max him out again this offseason before being outbid by Houston therefore letting him walk instead of unloading him at the deadline. What they saw in him thst warranted all this investment ill never know, but yeah again they were trying to build eith those 3, so it only made sense they keep norm with that core instead of unloading him for z worse version of himself.

I continue to contend that if we had traded fvv while he was at his highest value and got the biggest return for him, we would be In better position right now.

[sbsat]

Do you remember 13 game Bargnani, he was oozing potential too.
Too many teams pay an absurd amount for potential that amount to nothing!

Hindsight is 20/20. The point is he flashed enough to take a flier on him and the hope was hed pan out to something better. Ppl on here want to act like geniuses using 20/20 vision but the logic of making the deal made some sense

Nope no hindsight logic, again pull up the original thread I told everyone exactly who gary was. Said the same thing about og when people thought he was the next kawhi.

Barrett has more potential than trent and yet everyone here talks about him like he's capped out. I'm glad we got quickley but I've also not given up on Barrett. He's 23 and much like Barnes is a consistent jumper away from being great. He already has good footwork and strength around the basket and can get to the line. Again kind of like a young demar.

you seem to be right about everything you have quite the career ahead of you!

[brownbobcat]

It was not loosely the plan considering they signed fvv to an extension right after and were about to max him out again this offseason before being outbid by Houston therefore letting him walk instead of unloading him at the deadline. What they saw in him thst warranted all this investment ill never know, but yeah again they were trying to build eith those 3, so it only made sense they keep norm with that core instead of unloading him for z worse version of himself.

I continue to contend that if we had traded fvv while he was at his highest value and got the biggest return for him, we would be In better position right now.

Trust me, I've had my share of angst over this FO's inability to pick a direction so I use the word "loosely", well, loosely. You have the timing off on FVV's first extension, they signed that before the Tampa tank season started. At that point, they hadn't decided to rebuild at all - I was referring to the process that began after that season went sideways.

[Tha Cynic]

The two biggest issues with Barrett are his inefficient jumper and his tunnel vision. Both should be fixable. He's passable on defense if not solid when he focuses.

If the Raptors thought they could fix some of this, he's an all-star. We went years watching Aichuwa, FVV, Boucher and GTJ high-jacking the offense. Let's give Barrett a chance to see if he can make it work here. Last game we already saw how huge having 4 ball handlers who can all score was for the offense and Barrett's ability to get to the rim is absolutely huge. Him and Quickley also looked very good rotating on defense (thank you Thibodeau).

He's going to be frustrating at times, but he's very young and this is a big change of scenery. I also think Barnes, Barrett and Quickley are going to get along very well.

[StopitLeo]

Craziest thing is that Masai refused to pay Norm when he got 5 years 80M (16M per) when he gave Trent 18.5M per for a lesser player

AAV doesn't tell the whole story.

Norm got 5 years/$90M. Gary got 3 years/$52M with the 3rd year being an $18.6M option.

Norm is also 5 years older than GTJ and right now he's 30 and owed $40M over the next 2 years.

Norm has been very good since the trade but it wasn't unreasonable to think that GTJ could exceed his performance when we got him at 22 years of age. It was a calculated risk that didn't pay off but it hasn't been a disaster or anything.

Back to RJ Barrett — he's only 23 and has the potential to improve if he puts in the work. He could be a consistent ~15-18 ppg scorer in Toronto where he will be more of a 3rd scoring option that isn't expected to create his own offence. His salary represents 18% of the cap which isn't way off if he can produce at that level.

As Hero_Panda pointed out, RJ's mentality might be an important way he contributes to the team. Right now we have a few "happy" guys leading the way with Pascal and Scottie. Barrett definitely has a more aggressive personality on the floor and if he can channel that into a more appropriate role for his game things could work out well.

[ArthurVandelay]

I think RJ is streaky and frustrating the rest of this season.

I think he becomes a good contract next year as his 3pt % becomes closer to year 2 and he becomes smarter on his drives.

Basically he becomes a good .5 player.

[aminiaturebuddha]

A lot of the talk has been about Barrett on the offensive end, and ways he can improve there. I think what might be just as significant is if he can improve on the defensive end.

He's had moments where he's been a good defender, and has definitely improved since his first couple of years in the league, but overall it's not a strength. The problem is, without OG we're really going to need someone to take those primary matchups against wing players, and I'd prefer it not be Scottie.

We've seen Scottie be used to his strengths on D this year, playing closer to the paint, which allows him to read the play and slide over for rim protection. I don't really think it's in the team's best interest for Scottie to go back to chasing guys around off screens on the perimeter. Pascal can do some of that if he's kept, but he's also a bit too lanky at times to really navigate some of that area of the court.

IQ likely will eventually take on the smaller guards, but they need someone to handle primary duties on the bigger guards and wings. To the extent that defence can be worked on and developed, that should be a key goal for RJ in practice and throughout next summer.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think RJ is streaky and frustrating the rest of this season.

I think he becomes a good contract next year as his 3pt % becomes closer to year 2 and he becomes smarter on his drives.

Basically he becomes a good .5 player.

On that note:

"So far, he’s made my life so easy,” Fernández, also the associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings, said of Barrett to Holly MacKenzie of Team Canada's official site. “I don't have to call much for him. Here and there I do give him a play, but he just finds everything within the offense and that’s extremely valuable. I’m very happy with RJ and his performance so far.”

I think when people complain about his usage rate, they see it in terms of like Melo or Mitchell, like an absolute ball pig. He barely has the ball and does everything decisively. That might actually be part of why he struggles scoring efficiently, but I don't consider his 27 USG destructive to an offense.

[DLTGWH]

Simple observation: RJ not a bad player, but more often than not there are 4 other players on the court that you'd rather have shooting. Hes a more effective point forward than he is wing. Which might fit in Toronto. Obviously not in NY with 2 other guys who need the ball.

[PushDaRock]

His finishing at the rim is mediocre but it's good enough. Where he really struggles is when he gets deep but not all the way to the rim and he's shooting 33% for his career from 3-10 ft. It's improved the last 2 years to around 40% which still isn't good because he takes a lot of shots in this area but he was FVV level bad in his first 3 years. Some sign of improvement there is good but If he's going to continue to take a lot of shots from this area, he needs to develop a go to move here that's efficient and/or get much better at drawing fouls there like what Jimmy Butler does.

[douggood]

rj barrett is coming to a team top 3 in team assists this season

knicks this year 3rd worst
knicks 22-23 2nd worst
knicks 21-22 last
knicks 20-21 last
knicks 19-20 4th worst

just imagine 1-2 easier shots a game and how it affects his efficiency.

[ATLTimekeeper]

rj barrett is coming to a team top 3 in team assists this season

knicks this year 3rd worst
knicks 22-23 2nd worst
knicks 21-22 last
knicks 20-21 last
knicks 19-20 4th worst

just imagine 1-2 easier shots a game and how it affects his efficiency.

Let's be real, some of that is on him

[douggood]

rj barrett is coming to a team top 3 in team assists this season

knicks this year 3rd worst
knicks 22-23 2nd worst
knicks 21-22 last
knicks 20-21 last
knicks 19-20 4th worst

just imagine 1-2 easier shots a game and how it affects his efficiency.

Let's be real, some of that is on him

or the thibs system
raptors went from near the bottom last season to near the top.

[GIZMO]

Potential is exactly why they did it. Do you remember gtj had a stretch of 5 games in a row where he scored 30+ points? Do you remember the season where he was menace with steals? This guy flashed a lot of potential it just didnt pan out.

Do you remember 13 game Bargnani, he was oozing potential too.
Too many teams pay an absurd amount for potential that amount to nothing!

Hindsight is 20/20. The point is he flashed enough to take a flier on him and the hope was hed pan out to something better. Ppl on here want to act like geniuses using 20/20 vision but the logic of making the deal made some sense

It would be hindsight if I backtracked on the trade, but I didn’t like it from the beginning. Actually, since the norm trade we have made a lot of questionable trades and drafts. Seems like we have been on the short end of the stick since the championship, Even the OG trade which I don’t mind because i feel like he was a goner this summer either way. If we are going for potential why not get draft picks? But I defer to Masai and believe in him (not blindly) and we have seen first hand it isn’t that easy to build a winner, especially if we are not a prime destination.

[KrazyP]

Hindsight is 20/20. The point is he flashed enough to take a flier on him and the hope was hed pan out to something better. Ppl on here want to act like geniuses using 20/20 vision but the logic of making the deal made some sense

Nope no hindsight logic, again pull up the original thread I told everyone exactly who gary was. Said the same thing about og when people thought he was the next kawhi.

Barrett has more potential than trent and yet everyone here talks about him like he's capped out. I'm glad we got quickley but I've also not given up on Barrett. He's 23 and much like Barnes is a consistent jumper away from being great. He already has good footwork and strength around the basket and can get to the line. Again kind of like a young demar.

I think there are 2 factors here.

1. People discount Barrett's offensive ability because of his poor efficiency. TS% is an ok stat to judge how a player is performing as a scorer in their given role. It becomes a completely useless stat if you dont take into context role, system, coaching, teammates, etc...a lot of fans on realgm struggle to understand this. Example - OG is way more efficient offensively than Barrett but Barrett is a far better, more impactful offensive player because he can actually initiate the offense and is a legitimate threat to shoot, pass or drive....he's far harder to defend.

2. A lot of fans have trouble disconnecting a player's performance and talent from the size of their contract.

Barrett's decision making and shot selection will certainly frustrate us at times but he's still a solid player today with tonnes of room for growth.

The Raps made a great trade. On paper today it looks fair but OG has already peaked as a player whereas Quickly and RJ both have room for significant development. A few years from now, this trade could potentially look like highway robbery.

[SirKen]

Hindsight is 20/20. The point is he flashed enough to take a flier on him and the hope was hed pan out to something better. Ppl on here want to act like geniuses using 20/20 vision but the logic of making the deal made some sense

Nope no hindsight logic, again pull up the original thread I told everyone exactly who gary was. Said the same thing about og when people thought he was the next kawhi.

Barrett has more potential than trent and yet everyone here talks about him like he's capped out. I'm glad we got quickley but I've also not given up on Barrett. He's 23 and much like Barnes is a consistent jumper away from being great. He already has good footwork and strength around the basket and can get to the line. Again kind of like a young demar.

you seem to be right about everything you have quite the career ahead of you!

That's because he gets it. I don't post as often as some of you yet I find myself clicking and1 on many of his posts.

[-NSX-]

You don't think he hears the smack talk that people think he's not worth his contract and his trade value is "toxic." This guy is out for blood and Im lovin' it.

[ArthurVandelay]

Hindsight is 20/20. The point is he flashed enough to take a flier on him and the hope was hed pan out to something better. Ppl on here want to act like geniuses using 20/20 vision but the logic of making the deal made some sense

Nope no hindsight logic, again pull up the original thread I told everyone exactly who gary was. Said the same thing about og when people thought he was the next kawhi.

Barrett has more potential than trent and yet everyone here talks about him like he's capped out. I'm glad we got quickley but I've also not given up on Barrett. He's 23 and much like Barnes is a consistent jumper away from being great. He already has good footwork and strength around the basket and can get to the line. Again kind of like a young demar.

I think there are 2 factors here.

1. People discount Barrett's offensive ability because of his poor efficiency. TS% is an ok stat to judge how a player is performing as a scorer in their given role. It becomes a completely useless stat if you dont take into context role, system, coaching, teammates, etc...a lot of fans on realgm struggle to understand this. Example - OG is way more efficient offensively than Barrett but Barrett is a far better, more impactful offensive player because he can actually initiate the offense and is a legitimate threat to shoot, pass or drive....he's far harder to defend.

2. A lot of fans have trouble disconnecting a player's performance and talent from the size of their contract.

Barrett's decision making and shot selection will certainly frustrate us at times but he's still a solid player today with tonnes of room for growth.

The Raps made a great trade. On paper today it looks fair but OG has already peaked as a player whereas Quickly and RJ both have room for significant development. A few years from now, this trade could potentially look like highway robbery.

Hopefully the 2nd round pick is the cherry on top

[dTox]

We need to get out of his contract, asap. He's a nice guy and all

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

[mdenny]

RJ is gonna be a source of hate from casual fans. Free throw attempts aren't reflected in efficiency numbers. Efficiency #s are the love of video game and fantasy league fans. OG could not dribble the ball. RJ can dribble. It's one upside even tho OG is clearly the better player currently. Rj can say "eff it" and bully his way into the paint.

Casual has been called.

I see it the other way around. Casuals are going to drink the TSN/Sportsnet Kool-aid that he was the prize of this trade. They might turn on him if he doesn't live up to that hype though. Casuals don't typically know about advanced stats.

Maybe by casual you mean Blog Boys?

I worked on raps game tonight and was shocked that the halftime panel called RJ the main return on the trade. Can't remember the exact phrase used....but u right. That's how the trade is being sold. Kinda surprising to me but whatever.

In anycase...RJ attacks the rim. It's gonna be ugly sometimes and when it doesn't work....it's the type of thing that many fans exaggerate in terms of impact.

I honestly thought OG was overrated by some fans because what you give up on offense with him isn't obvious to the eye test. The raptors needed more traditional basketball players. Og, siakam, Barnes are all kinda hard to define as players. Not traditional American ballers that grew up playing one on one in the schoolyard. Ball handling, specifically, was a deficit with the combo of those 3. Siakam has a decent handle. Scotty has a decent handle. OG has a horrible handle. Too much of a deficit in an important skill for a top 3 mix.

RJ has a decent handle and quickley has a great handle. So we immediately went from perhaps the bottom 5 teams in regards to ballhandling to at least average and possibly slightly above average with this trade.

Ppl will complain about RJs decision-making but he makes mistakes he's at least attacking the rim and pressuring the defense. Drawing fouls ain't a sexy attribute but it was something we were missing. Without a star player running the offense....OG was a real liability for us.

That's not a diss on OG. He just belongs on a team with a doncic or Harden or Morant. Brunson fits the bill I think.