RJ Barrett is Criminally Underrated

[bluerap23]

Just randomly remembered that Darko compared RJ to Manu back when he first arrived and apparently Manu was Rj's favourite player. Maybe that makes a shirt to 6th man more palatable.

[Raptorfan2012]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

[rim_killa]

underrated

[MEDIC]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

Who us making 12-15 million in this league?

RJ's current contract is fine.

Lets see how all these guys perform together this season before deciding which contracts are too heavy.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

I like him too. But, him and Scottie operate in the same areas.

[mihaic]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

12m is totally unrealistic for RJ, imo. He's a perfect 6th man.

Iq's contract is much worse. Unless he turns it around he'll be at best filler in a trade. Noone wants his 32m contact. The reason RJ is in trade talks is probably because noone wants IQ.

I hope Bobby stops handcuffing us with these overpays like the IQ contract, now that Masai is gone.

[CPT]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

12m is totally unrealistic for RJ, imo. He's a perfect 6th man.

Iq's contract is much worse. Unless he turns it around he'll be at best filler in a trade. Noone wants his 32m contact. The reason RJ is in trade talks is probably because noone wants IQ.

I hope Bobby stops handcuffing us with these overpays like the IQ contract, now that Masai is gone.

If both RJ and IQ were waived tomorrow, IQ is getting closer to his deal than RJ. IQ might just get claimed on his current deal (I definitely know how getting put on waivers works).

IQ’s contract is bad, but he’d be in the rotation for every team in the league. That puts a certain floor on his price.

RJ could get GTJed. Maybe he “deserves” 18-20M, but I don’t know who would want to give it to him.

[Johnny Bball]

Nobody is underrating RJ. He is simply the odd man out. The current starting lineup of: Poeltl, Barnes, RJ, BI and IQ will not work. Poeltl, Barnes, BI and IQ are set in stone. RJ is the only one that can be replaced, for example a defensive player.

Assuming RJ is on the roster in October they 100% should start RJ. He's going to look great playing solely from the corners in that lineup and he's going to be far more tradable at the deadline.

[Godaddycurse]

I want RJ to look like Team Canada RJ this year.

[tsherkin]

Nobody is underrating RJ. He is simply the odd man out. The current starting lineup of: Poeltl, Barnes, RJ, BI and IQ will not work. Poeltl, Barnes, BI and IQ are set in stone. RJ is the only one that can be replaced, for example a defensive player.

Assuming RJ is on the roster in October they 100% should start RJ. He's going to look great playing solely from the corners in that lineup and he's going to be far more tradable at the deadline.

He deserves a chance to show what he can be in this lineup, that's at least certain.

[LoveMyRaps]

I like him too. But, him and Scottie operate in the same areas.

Still worth giving this group a look. If things don’t work, RJ will be gone by the deadline.

[mihaic]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

12m is totally unrealistic for RJ, imo. He's a perfect 6th man.

Iq's contract is much worse. Unless he turns it around he'll be at best filler in a trade. Noone wants his 32m contact. The reason RJ is in trade talks is probably because noone wants IQ.

I hope Bobby stops handcuffing us with these overpays like the IQ contract, now that Masai is gone.

If both RJ and IQ were waived tomorrow, IQ is getting closer to his deal than RJ. IQ might just get claimed on his current deal (I definitely know how getting put on waivers works).

IQ’s contract is bad, but he’d be in the rotation for every team in the league. That puts a certain floor on his price.

RJ could get GTJed. Maybe he “deserves” 18-20M, but I don’t know who would want to give it to him.

You pass your opinions as facts.

Both iq and rj are 6th man material imo. For this reason iq is overpaid more. When IQ shot is not falling he is useless, RJ can get his almost any night with his bully ball.

Also RJ >>>> GTJ. He can get his points every night, assist others too. GTJ can only shoot won't pass. RJ defends better too. Huge difference.

[OhCanada]

Yeah its crazy. I've been following RJ since he was a young kid. I remember Rowan Barrett on NBA TV talking about his son. He was already a star before he even went to Montverde, thats very tough for a HS player. Alot of players fail to improve but he continued to develop. Dominated every single level went to the pros and continues to improve. Canadian born player, always suits up for Canada, playing for his hometown, 24 years old, averaged 20, 5 and 5 and the Canadian fans all want to trade him. For John Collins? Micheal Porter Jr.? And they wanted us to inclued the 9th pick. Have you guys lost your damn minds?

[CPT]

Yeah its crazy. I've been following RJ since he was a young kid. I remember Rowan Barrett on NBA TV talking about his son. He was already a star before he even went to Montverde, thats very tough for a HS player. Alot of players fail to improve but he continued to develop. Dominated every single level went to the pros and continues to improve. Canadian born player, always suits up for Canada, playing for his hometown, 24 years old, averaged 20, 5 and 5 and the Canadian fans all want to trade him. For John Collins? Micheal Porter Jr.? And they wanted us to inclued the 9th pick. Have you guys lost your damn minds?

Can you find a single post saying they want(ed) to trade RJ + 9 for Collins or MPJ? Let alone it being any kind of consensus?

[Kingsway_fan]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

12m is totally unrealistic for RJ, imo. He's a perfect 6th man.

Iq's contract is much worse. Unless he turns it around he'll be at best filler in a trade. Noone wants his 32m contact. The reason RJ is in trade talks is probably because noone wants IQ.

I hope Bobby stops handcuffing us with these overpays like the IQ contract, now that Masai is gone.

Without the overpays, you don't get any talent to sign in Toronto.

[StopitLeo]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

12m is totally unrealistic for RJ, imo. He's a perfect 6th man.

Iq's contract is much worse. Unless he turns it around he'll be at best filler in a trade. Noone wants his 32m contact. The reason RJ is in trade talks is probably because noone wants IQ.

I hope Bobby stops handcuffing us with these overpays like the IQ contract, now that Masai is gone.

RJ's salary represents ~18% of the cap (17.9% this year, 17.4% next year). I think that is quite reasonable for a starter with his usage. As you said, $12M is completely unrealistic—that's less than the non-taxpayer MLE.

As far as IQ, what contract do you think would have been more appropriate?

I think the Raptors actually appear very strategic with contracts for guys like IQ, who they see in a starter role and presumably think will continue to improve. In these cases they opt for flat contracts with no raises so what might seem like an overpay this year becomes more reasonable or even an underpay moving forward. Specifically, IQ's salary represents 21% of the cap this year and declines to 19.1%, 17.4%, and 15.8% (based on cap projections).

The issue with RJ is how his salary fits into the team's salary cap moving forward given his game. It probably doesn't in which case it wouldn't hurt to move him for pieces that might make more sense in terms of both skills and salary.

[Airmiess]

Biggest issue with RJ is his contract. If he was making ~$12-15M and doesn't mind coming off the bench, he would be a pretty good piece to have.

Are you insane ? 15 million ?
(it's a **** load of money yes, but relatively speaking it's cheap)

[TGM]

I do agree that RJ is underrated, but he has some visible flaws therefore its required that a coach makes him play within his skill set.

RJ's FT shooting a big concern. His form is not horrible, but he misses a ton of free throws. This could be a mental pressure issue and that is a big problem, cause as a guard you need to hit your FTs.

RJ's forces up a lot of bad shots. RJ's FG could easily be 10% higher if he focused on his corner spot up 3s and slashing game. His mid-range shooting game is actually not that good. He tends to miss a ton of easy shots within 8-10 feet.

Rj's right hand is clearly weaker. When he goes right his finishing and speed is all slower.

With this being said,

RJ has one of the stronger slashing Euro step games in the league. He is pretty deadly with that move.

RJ has the athleticism to run on the fast break and more than enough speed and power to get easy baskets.

[TerryTate]

I do agree that RJ is underrated, but he has some visible flaws therefore its required that a coach makes him play within his skill set.

RJ's FT shooting a big concern. His form is not horrible, but he misses a ton of free throws. This could be a mental pressure issue and that is a big problem, cause as a guard you need to hit your FTs.

RJ's forces up a lot of bad shots. RJ's FG could easily be 10% higher if he focused on his corner spot up 3s and slashing game. His mid-range shooting game is actually not that good. He tends to miss a ton of easy shots within 8-10 feet.

Rj's right hand is clearly weaker. When he goes right his finishing and speed is all slower.

With this being said,

RJ has one of the stronger slashing Euro step games in the league. He is pretty deadly with that move.

RJ has the athleticism to run on the fast break and more than enough speed and power to get easy baskets.

Also, i think should be noted, last season was kind of an anomaly. Half of the starters were in and out of the lineup due to injury last season. RJ was playing 1 - 2 option, when he's probably better suited for option 3. BI will likely be option 1, Scotty 2, and RJ or quick option 3. Also, that being said RJ will likely be in that corner position (in which he shoots a higher 3PT%) more often now, as he's not the option 1-2 he was playing last year.

[GLF]

I do agree that RJ is underrated, but he has some visible flaws therefore its required that a coach makes him play within his skill set.

RJ's FT shooting a big concern. His form is not horrible, but he misses a ton of free throws. This could be a mental pressure issue and that is a big problem, cause as a guard you need to hit your FTs.

RJ's forces up a lot of bad shots. RJ's FG could easily be 10% higher if he focused on his corner spot up 3s and slashing game. His mid-range shooting game is actually not that good. He tends to miss a ton of easy shots within 8-10 feet.

Rj's right hand is clearly weaker. When he goes right his finishing and speed is all slower.

With this being said,

RJ has one of the stronger slashing Euro step games in the league. He is pretty deadly with that move.


RJ has the athleticism to run on the fast break and more than enough speed and power to get easy baskets.

Also, i think should be noted, last season was kind of an anomaly. Half of the starters were in and out of the lineup due to injury last season. RJ was playing 1 - 2 option, when he's probably better suited for option 3. BI will likely be option 1, Scotty 2, and RJ or quick option 3. Also, that being said RJ will likely be in that corner position (in which he shoots a higher 3PT%) more often now, as he's not the option 1-2 he was playing last year.

This is the part I don’t think people are thinking about enough when speaking about RJ this upcoming season. Beyond him being able to be parked in the corner more, he will be much lower in the pecking order which I actually think will be good for him and his skill set. Last season he was asked to be the number 1 or 2 option a lot because of all the injuries, which hurt his percentages. Even more so when Scottie is your number 1 option because he struggled offensively last season so he wasn’t even a good number 1. As the number 3 or 4 option he can stick to cutting, taking 3s from the corner mostly, driving off curls and movement, attacking close outs and scoring in transitions. All things he’s good at and can do. He isn’t this ball dominant player people think he is. He is much better as an off ball player who usage is very specific and tailored to what he’s good at. Eliminating for the most part the things he isn’t. The thing he really has to get better at is the free throw shooting bc he actually gets to the line a decent amount.