Fisher: Raptors are still shopping RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley

[ArthurVandelay]

Been trying to manifest IQ + Mogbo to LAL for Reaves in a S&T next year. Think he has more upside as a scorer and has been a number 2 in the playoffs next to LBJ and has done pretty well. Easy contender for guy who's counting stats are being limited by his role; having to play next to Lebron and Luka

Life will be a lot harder without playing next to LeBron/Luka or LeBron/Brow

It’s a different game when the game plan is to stop you

[JB7]

We've all done it!



Yes. He was VERY inefficient. Barrett was 2.9% below league-average efficiency; he had an awful year. You cannot evaluate efficiency merely with FG%. it is no longer the 1960s, man.

RJ's most efficient year, was his first with the Raps. He not only shot less, than he did last season, but he actually averaged more points per game (his highest pts per game in a season). It gives Darko all the proof he needs to convince RJ that style of play will be what gets him paid. Simple game, take the open drives or open 3's. Otherwise, move the ball.

I have major doubts that RJ is going to get paid on his next contract. I don’t know if he can get above league average efficiency even if he’s back to 23/24 RJ (in terms of shot diet).

RJ shot 9% better at the rim in those 32 games than he has in any other season of his career. That feels like an outlier. If he can get to league average efficiency that helps but with the way the league is going middling efficiency volume scoring guards who have defensive issues aren’t exactly in high demand.

When I said paid, I was thinking around the range he currently is being compensated. But the 9% better at the rim is probably because all he was doing was driving to the basket, and those were layups. With BI in the lineup, those easy drives might return. And the team doesn't have anyone else like him that can consistently get to the rim.

That 32 game period with the Raps, his TS% was .615

[VanWest82]

Plus, at 7 feet and 240lbs, Markkanen could play the C role at times, with Scottie and CMB out on the floor with him.

Yeah this is what I'd be after along with a lead ball handler and another two way wing player who can shoot. Hopefully, IQ develops into the lead ball handler, otherwise the two way wing needs to also be a combo guard. But that's an actual starting point for an eventual contender imo.

[Johnny Bball]

Oh, my bad. I thought you were talking about Lauri. I shouldn't read Realgm on my phone lol.

We've all done it!

47% FG is inefficient to you? It's 2025, posting adv stats without context isn't going to get it done either. RJ has done everything we have asked from him with room to grow being only 25

Yes. He was VERY inefficient. Barrett was 2.9% below league-average efficiency; he had an awful year. You cannot evaluate efficiency merely with FG%. it is no longer the 1960s, man.

RJ's most efficient year, was his first with the Raps. He not only shot less, than he did last season, but he actually averaged more points per game (his highest pts per game in a season). It gives Darko all the proof he needs to convince RJ that style of play will be what gets him paid. Simple game, take the open drives or open 3's. Otherwise, move the ball.

Its where he plays. When everyone is healthy he plays from the corners and gets great looks and drives, no doubles and 3rd best defender. When everyone isn't and he has to above the break, and the main ballhandler vs starters, its not the best use of his talent.

First year, corners, 2nd everyone hurt and ballhandler 2nd half.

[CazOnReal]

Been trying to manifest IQ + Mogbo to LAL for Reaves in a S&T next year. Think he has more upside as a scorer and has been a number 2 in the playoffs next to LBJ and has done pretty well. Easy contender for guy who's counting stats are being limited by his role; having to play next to Lebron and Luka

Gross

[Purple+Black]

Been trying to manifest IQ + Mogbo to LAL for Reaves in a S&T next year. Think he has more upside as a scorer and has been a number 2 in the playoffs next to LBJ and has done pretty well. Easy contender for guy who's counting stats are being limited by his role; having to play next to Lebron and Luka

Gross

I like that we’re exploring trades for IQ and RJ but looking at what you just suggested I would much much rather keep both than acquire Reaves.

A direction similar to the Derrick White acquisition would benefit this team much more.

[Los_29]

And reached ECF. OG on this Raps team at that price was not worth it (neither is RJ and possibly IQ) but on the Knicks with multiple all-star level players, OG made much more sense, even if it meant overpaying him

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OG doesn’t deserve that kind of money. Knicks are fortunate they had Brunson and Bridges on great value contracts. A bad contract is a bad contract regardless of how well they did. OG also struggled in the playoffs. Efficiency was way down.

And yet, he helped them take out the Celtics, this is what they paid him for. Even with a healthy Tatum, they had Boston on the ropes. The money didn't hurt them all that had because both Brunson and Bridges took discounts, they planned everything out pretty well, that's what good front offices do. And they are the likely favorites to reach the finals coming into the next season. Context matters when it comes to contracts, for the Knicks, OG was worth it

OG actually struggled in that series against the Celtics. 14/5 while shooting 36% from the field.

That’s my point. They paid OG that money because Bridges and Brunson are on discounts. The fact they are underpaid does not make OG’s contract a good one. It’s a bad contract. In his final year of his contract he will make close to 50 million a year. This is a guy that can’t dribble the basketball and stay healthy. No one is denying he’s a good fit. But it’s a bad contract and no teams will be wanting to take on that deal.

And they beat Boston and yet got thoroughly embarrassed by the 4th seed. They aren’t close to winning a championship.

And reached ECF. OG on this Raps team at that price was not worth it (neither is RJ and possibly IQ) but on the Knicks with multiple all-star level players, OG made much more sense, even if it meant overpaying him

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They didn't reach ECF due to OG, it was Brunson who reached ECF. My wild guess is they reach ECF with Ochai instead of OG.

Who shut down Tatum and Jaylen Brown? OG wasn't brought in for his scoring. And no, they would not have reached ECF with Ochai instead of OG, that is such a ridiculous statement that I am not sure how to even follow up on that lol

So he shutdown Tatum and Brown and yet got torched by Pascal? You don’t pay 45 million a year for a 3+D player. It’s absurd. OG put up inefficient role player numbers in the playoffs. He was not a difference maker. He’s around the top 20 highest paid players in the league and yet not a single publication has him even in the top 40 players in the league.

[tsherkin]

I'm not bull-ish on RJ by any means and am very open to trading him, but I do think that most people including the front office are expecting exactly that to happen this season.

It is certainly my hope.

More spacing, less responsibility, better overall health all around due to less tanking. This is his opportunity. If he can't do it now, then it probably isn't ever going to be a thing again, except but briefly, you know?

I don't know if RJ can put the two together, but it's what everyone is expecting imo and it's on him to prove it. Honestly, if Ingram works out here it's tough to see RJ in a permanent role even if he does play to his full potential, but it would sure make things interesting.

I dunno. While we technically play RJ as a 3, he has the mobility to technically be a 2, if we're bothering to make distinctions. I think he provides something of which we have a DIRE absence, in terms of rim pressure. So if he CAN be efficient for us, that's pretty big. If he can be even a league-average efficiency guy, that's into the territory of "valid second option," which is something we need alongside a proper number one (which will hopefully be BI, in terms of a non-contending team).

I've got my fingers crossed, man, I'm just skeptical. But it would be pretty awesome if we got him back to that.

[bluerap23]

yeah - not to interested in Lauri or Reaves. At this point I want to aim way higher. Give me a superstar or keep developing what we have. Only other consideration is more 2-way players or 3+D.

[HumbleRen]

OG doesn’t deserve that kind of money. Knicks are fortunate they had Brunson and Bridges on great value contracts. A bad contract is a bad contract regardless of how well they did. OG also struggled in the playoffs. Efficiency was way down.

And yet, he helped them take out the Celtics, this is what they paid him for. Even with a healthy Tatum, they had Boston on the ropes. The money didn't hurt them all that had because both Brunson and Bridges took discounts, they planned everything out pretty well, that's what good front offices do. And they are the likely favorites to reach the finals coming into the next season. Context matters when it comes to contracts, for the Knicks, OG was worth it

OG actually struggled in that series against the Celtics. 14/5 while shooting 36% from the field.

That’s my point. They paid OG that money because Bridges and Brunson are on discounts. The fact they are underpaid does not make OG’s contract a good one. It’s a bad contract. In his final year of his contract he will make close to 50 million a year. This is a guy that can’t dribble the basketball and stay healthy. No one is denying he’s a good fit. But it’s a bad contract and no teams will be wanting to take on that deal.

And they beat Boston and yet got thoroughly embarrassed by the 4th seed. They aren’t close to winning a championship.

They didn't reach ECF due to OG, it was Brunson who reached ECF. My wild guess is they reach ECF with Ochai instead of OG.

Who shut down Tatum and Jaylen Brown? OG wasn't brought in for his scoring. And no, they would not have reached ECF with Ochai instead of OG, that is such a ridiculous statement that I am not sure how to even follow up on that lol

So he shutdown Tatum and Brown and yet got torched by Pascal? You don’t pay 45 million a year for a 3+D player. It’s absurd. OG put up inefficient role player numbers in the playoffs. He was not a difference maker. He’s around the top 20 highest paid players in the league and yet not a single publication has him even in the top 40 players in the league.

This is a very flawed way to view the game of basketball on defence.

Great defenders get torched all of the time. It’s about making the offensive stars take harder shots, you’re not going to shut down a Tatum of the worlds.

OG did exactly what he was supposed to do in the playoffs.

[Los_29]

And yet, he helped them take out the Celtics, this is what they paid him for. Even with a healthy Tatum, they had Boston on the ropes. The money didn't hurt them all that had because both Brunson and Bridges took discounts, they planned everything out pretty well, that's what good front offices do. And they are the likely favorites to reach the finals coming into the next season. Context matters when it comes to contracts, for the Knicks, OG was worth it

OG actually struggled in that series against the Celtics. 14/5 while shooting 36% from the field.

That’s my point. They paid OG that money because Bridges and Brunson are on discounts. The fact they are underpaid does not make OG’s contract a good one. It’s a bad contract. In his final year of his contract he will make close to 50 million a year. This is a guy that can’t dribble the basketball and stay healthy. No one is denying he’s a good fit. But it’s a bad contract and no teams will be wanting to take on that deal.

And they beat Boston and yet got thoroughly embarrassed by the 4th seed. They aren’t close to winning a championship.

Who shut down Tatum and Jaylen Brown? OG wasn't brought in for his scoring. And no, they would not have reached ECF with Ochai instead of OG, that is such a ridiculous statement that I am not sure how to even follow up on that lol

So he shutdown Tatum and Brown and yet got torched by Pascal? You don’t pay 45 million a year for a 3+D player. It’s absurd. OG put up inefficient role player numbers in the playoffs. He was not a difference maker. He’s around the top 20 highest paid players in the league and yet not a single publication has him even in the top 40 players in the league.

This is a very flawed way to view the game of basketball on defence.

Great defenders get torched all of the time. It’s about making the offensive stars take harder shots, you’re not going to shut down a Tatum of the worlds.

OG did exactly what he was supposed to do in the playoffs.

That’s not my point. My point is his impact in the playoffs is not that of a player making 45 million a year. He played good defense while being below average offensively.

Knicks added these great wing defenders and yet got obliterated by the Pacers. They couldn’t stop anyone.

OG is expected to hit threes and play defense. He only did one of those things in the playoffs. So he didn’t do what he was supposed to do. And he most certainly didn’t defend Pascal very well in the ECF. So he basically didn’t do his job in the ECF.

OG is a great player. My point is he’s wildly overpaid. It’s a bad contract but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player or that he’s a bad fit.

[oldncreaky]

OG actually struggled in that series against the Celtics. 14/5 while shooting 36% from the field.

That’s my point. They paid OG that money because Bridges and Brunson are on discounts. The fact they are underpaid does not make OG’s contract a good one. It’s a bad contract. In his final year of his contract he will make close to 50 million a year. This is a guy that can’t dribble the basketball and stay healthy. No one is denying he’s a good fit. But it’s a bad contract and no teams will be wanting to take on that deal.

And they beat Boston and yet got thoroughly embarrassed by the 4th seed. They aren’t close to winning a championship.



So he shutdown Tatum and Brown and yet got torched by Pascal? You don’t pay 45 million a year for a 3+D player. It’s absurd. OG put up inefficient role player numbers in the playoffs. He was not a difference maker. He’s around the top 20 highest paid players in the league and yet not a single publication has him even in the top 40 players in the league.

This is a very flawed way to view the game of basketball on defence.

Great defenders get torched all of the time. It’s about making the offensive stars take harder shots, you’re not going to shut down a Tatum of the worlds.

OG did exactly what he was supposed to do in the playoffs.

That’s not my point. My point is his impact in the playoffs is not that of a player making 45 million a year. He played good defense while being below average offensively.

Knicks added these great wing defenders and yet got obliterated by the Pacers. They couldn’t stop anyone.

OG is expected to hit threes and play defense. He only did one of those things in the playoffs. So he didn’t do what he was supposed to do. And he most certainly didn’t defend Pascal very well in the ECF. So he basically didn’t do his job in the ECF.

OG is a great player. My point is he’s wildly overpaid. It’s a bad contract but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player or that he’s a bad fit.

Did we watch the same ECF?

What I saw was a classic Carlisle job, where he manipulated match-ups and play-calls so that he would expose either Brunson or KAT to match-ups they could not handle. Another master class in coaching in the playoffs,

As for Pascal Siakam v OG in the ECF, what I remember seeing was a lot of ball movement so that the Pacers could get OG off of Siakam -- and let Siakam roast Bridges, Hart or KAT

[Los_29]

This is a very flawed way to view the game of basketball on defence.

Great defenders get torched all of the time. It’s about making the offensive stars take harder shots, you’re not going to shut down a Tatum of the worlds.

OG did exactly what he was supposed to do in the playoffs.

That’s not my point. My point is his impact in the playoffs is not that of a player making 45 million a year. He played good defense while being below average offensively.

Knicks added these great wing defenders and yet got obliterated by the Pacers. They couldn’t stop anyone.

OG is expected to hit threes and play defense. He only did one of those things in the playoffs. So he didn’t do what he was supposed to do. And he most certainly didn’t defend Pascal very well in the ECF. So he basically didn’t do his job in the ECF.

OG is a great player. My point is he’s wildly overpaid. It’s a bad contract but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player or that he’s a bad fit.

Did we watch the same ECF?

What I saw was a classic Carlisle job, where he manipulated match-ups and play-calls so that he would expose either Brunson or KAT to match-ups they could not handle. Another master class in coaching in the playoffs,

As for Pascal Siakam v OG in the ECF, what I remember seeing was a lot of ball movement so that the Pacers could get OG off of Siakam -- and let Siakam roast Bridges, Hart or KAT

I’m not saying they got destroyed because of OG and Bridges. I’m saying that neither of them were enough to even slow down the Pacers offense. So why pay that player 45 million a year when they can’t go out and get you a bucket and their defense isn’t making a huge impact on the overall team’s defense?

OG isn’t a top 25 player in the league. But he’s paid like one. Knicks looked awful against Indiana.

[tsherkin]

Knicks looked awful against Indiana.

No bench was a big part of that. Mitch Robinson being a flaming waste of skin at the FT line heavily limiting his ability to stay on the floor was a problem. Bridges' FT shooting was a problem. Hart's 3pt shooting was a problem.

When you're a guy who takes 6.5, 7 3s a game like OG, you're going to run into shooting variance. That happened in that series. He struggled badly, especially over the last 3 games... but was also getting to the line pretty well over that stretch, which helped off-set.

OG's defense is pretty high-end, but he can do only so much. And you're ignoring that he was all over the place disrupting plays and forcing turnovers. And while you say he can't go out and get a bucket, he does actually have a pretty effective post game on the right side.

No offense, but it's really hard to square away that series with the way you're describing Anunoby, even with the equivocation after. His contract isn't amazing, but even IN that series, he was like a 4-stock, 18 ppg player with the fourth-most FGAs of anyone on the team... and he shot about 62% inside the arc. And while he didn't drive much, when he did, it was quite effective. So again, the characterization just doesn't fit with the results.

[canada_dry]

I'm not bull-ish on RJ by any means and am very open to trading him, but I do think that most people including the front office are expecting exactly that to happen this season.

It is certainly my hope.

More spacing, less responsibility, better overall health all around due to less tanking. This is his opportunity. If he can't do it now, then it probably isn't ever going to be a thing again, except but briefly, you know?

I don't know if RJ can put the two together, but it's what everyone is expecting imo and it's on him to prove it. Honestly, if Ingram works out here it's tough to see RJ in a permanent role even if he does play to his full potential, but it would sure make things interesting.

I dunno. While we technically play RJ as a 3, he has the mobility to technically be a 2, if we're bothering to make distinctions. I think he provides something of which we have a DIRE absence, in terms of rim pressure. So if he CAN be efficient for us, that's pretty big. If he can be even a league-average efficiency guy, that's into the territory of "valid second option," which is something we need alongside a proper number one (which will hopefully be BI, in terms of a non-contending team).

I've got my fingers crossed, man, I'm just skeptical. But it would be pretty awesome if we got him back to that.

Where exactly is the skepticism? He was thst when he needed to be(first year post trade) and he wasn't that when he couldn't be due to injuries (2nd year). Small sample size? Yeah sure. But i think he's proven the ability when the teams healthy.

Now if the skepticism is putting it ALL together, meaning the increased efficiency on a lesser role of the first 30+ games with the team PLUS the improved playmaking and decent defense of this past season PLUS better free throw shooting going forward...i get it. Putting it all together in one single season might be difficult.

But if he was even in the same ballpark efficiency wise as he was in his first season with the Raptors, lets say 58 ts % instead of 60+...would anyone complain even if the playmaking doesn't stick etc etc?

I think he's proven that ability is my point. It would be a big disappointment if it didn't stick.

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[tsherkin]

Where exactly is the skepticism? He was thst when he needed to be(first year post trade) and he wasn't that when he couldn't be due to injuries (2nd year). Small sample size? Yeah sure. But i think he's proven the ability when the teams healthy.

He's proven nothing. 32 games isn't even half a season, and his actions can be schemed for, so yes, I remain skeptical. It's going to be fairly difficult to manage that shot distribution all year long. And then on top of that, yes, I think managing that with his better D and improved playmaking, but that's a secondary layer.

But if he was even in the same ballpark efficiency wise as he was in his first season with the Raptors, lets say 58 ts % instead of 60+...would anyone complain even if the playmaking doesn't stick etc etc?

It would solve a lot of the main issues with him, so long as he wasn't a disaster on D, for sure.

[iBall101]

Well all see IQ and RJ practicing at training camp next month.
Guess these guys have nothing much to report nowadays... smh

[canada_dry]

Where exactly is the skepticism? He was thst when he needed to be(first year post trade) and he wasn't that when he couldn't be due to injuries (2nd year). Small sample size? Yeah sure. But i think he's proven the ability when the teams healthy.

He's proven nothing. 32 games isn't even half a season, and his actions can be schemed for, so yes, I remain skeptical. It's going to be fairly difficult to manage that shot distribution all year long. And then on top of that, yes, I think managing that with his better D and improved playmaking, but that's a secondary layer.

But if he was even in the same ballpark efficiency wise as he was in his first season with the Raptors, lets say 58 ts % instead of 60+...would anyone complain even if the playmaking doesn't stick etc etc?

It would solve a lot of the main issues with him, so long as he wasn't a disaster on D, for sure.

I see what you mean about it being difficult to keep that shot distribution up and teams scheming for it. I think expecting the 60+ true shooting and JUST that being the shot diet is a lot to ask for so hes gonna have to sprinkle in a bit more. Hence why i said the same ballpark. Those exact efficiency stats would be a little wild lol.

But the stats when the team was healthy this year his ts% was still pretty good and much better playing off iq and scottie vs when the ball was in his hands a lot due to necessity because the team wasn't healthy. I think that shows something about him knowing his role and leaning into it.

I think he gets it. I think we've seen it a decent amount. Let's just hope the team is healthy enough to see it all year.

I think my point is I'm not skeptical as much as i am quite frankly expecting it. And as i said before it would be a huge disappointment if it doesn't happen and then we'd have to consider our options moving forward. I don't view it as a season where if he fails to be that guy in that role then we can say "yeah he failed but i was skeptical to begin with " You know what I mean? Like no. Ive seen him do it when needed. Its sink or swim now.

Idk if that means im being too easy or too tough on him.

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[Los_29]

Knicks looked awful against Indiana.

No bench was a big part of that. Mitch Robinson being a flaming waste of skin at the FT line heavily limiting his ability to stay on the floor was a problem. Bridges' FT shooting was a problem. Hart's 3pt shooting was a problem.

When you're a guy who takes 6.5, 7 3s a game like OG, you're going to run into shooting variance. That happened in that series. He struggled badly, especially over the last 3 games... but was also getting to the line pretty well over that stretch, which helped off-set.

OG's defense is pretty high-end, but he can do only so much. And you're ignoring that he was all over the place disrupting plays and forcing turnovers. And while you say he can't go out and get a bucket, he does actually have a pretty effective post game on the right side.

No offense, but it's really hard to square away that series with the way you're describing Anunoby, even with the equivocation after. His contract isn't amazing, but even IN that series, he was like a 4-stock, 18 ppg player with the fourth-most FGAs of anyone on the team... and he shot about 62% inside the arc. And while he didn't drive much, when he did, it was quite effective. So again, the characterization just doesn't fit with the results.

Bingo! That’s exactly what we are discussing. I like OG, he’s a great player. But he’s not a 45 million a year player. And he most certainly didn’t play like one in the playoffs.

It seems like every post has directly or indirectly agreed with me about him being overpaid. I just think it’s hard to be critical of OG because of how long he played here for. It’s hard not to like him as a player. But I think it’s fair to point out his contract and his flaws as a player.

[Mascot]

Just trade them both for LeBron


One year of playoffs with LeBron will be fun at least to watch.