Official RJ Barrett Thread

[Truthrising]

- Barnes is a #2, not a playoff #1
- RJ looks like he might be a better playoff player than Demar. Exceeding my expectations since we acquired him. Considering his lower defensive figures, maybe a #4 all things considered.
- IQ I’m still struggling to figure him out, I can hope for a playoff #3 eventually

- Conclusion: We need to find an actual #1 in the 2025 draft, to do anything in the playoffs

Yeah I have a feeling we may tank the next year to obtain someone like Cooper Flagg as our #1, it just seems like destiny.

Quickley
Barrett
Barnes
Flagg

[Raps in 4]

- Barnes is a #2, not a playoff #1
- RJ looks like he might be a better playoff player than Demar. Exceeding my expectations since we acquired him. Considering his lower defensive figures, maybe a #4 all things considered.
- IQ I’m still struggling to figure him out, I can hope for a playoff #3 eventually

- Conclusion: We need to find an actual #1 in the 2025 draft, to do anything in the playoffs

Yeah I have a feeling we may tank the next year to obtain someone like Cooper Flagg as our #1, it just seems like destiny.

Quickley
Barrett
Barnes
Flagg

We aren't going to intentionally lose games. The only way we tank is if we suffer major injuries or if our team really sucks. I think we'll be bad, just not nearly bad enough to contend for a top pick.

[HangTime]

- Barnes is a #2, not a playoff #1
- RJ looks like he might be a better playoff player than Demar. Exceeding my expectations since we acquired him. Considering his lower defensive figures, maybe a #4 all things considered.
- IQ I’m still struggling to figure him out, I can hope for a playoff #3 eventually

- Conclusion: We need to find an actual #1 in the 2025 draft, to do anything in the playoffs

I see Scottie as a true #1,

I think most people say #1, they think top scorer, but I don't see it that way.

A #1, in my eyes, is your best decision maker.

[LoveMyRaps]

RJ comes home...
Starts playing the basketball of his life, putting up all-star numbers.
Then he goes to the Olympics to try and win us a medal & has so far been the best player in the tournament.

Yet...this thread of is full of losers talking down on the kid.
Haven't seen this much unwarranted negativity directed towards a player.

[LoveMyRaps]

- Barnes is a #2, not a playoff #1
- RJ looks like he might be a better playoff player than Demar. Exceeding my expectations since we acquired him. Considering his lower defensive figures, maybe a #4 all things considered.
- IQ I’m still struggling to figure him out, I can hope for a playoff #3 eventually

- Conclusion: We need to find an actual #1 in the 2025 draft, to do anything in the playoffs

Yeah I have a feeling we may tank the next year to obtain someone like Cooper Flagg as our #1, it just seems like destiny.

Quickley
Barrett
Barnes
Flagg

We aren't going to intentionally lose games. The only way we tank is if we suffer major injuries or if our team really sucks. I think we'll be bad, just not nearly bad enough to contend for a top pick.

Hawks just jumped from #10 to #1.

As long as we finish in the bottom 8, we'll be in position to draft an all-star level talent.

The lottery is gonna be loaded.

[MEDIC]

Scottie would absolutely not be on the trade block before RJ, that is a molten core of the planet level of hot take

Who said that?

[CPT]

RJ comes home...
Starts playing the basketball of his life, putting up all-star numbers.
Then he goes to the Olympics to try and win us a medal & has so far been the best player in the tournament.

Yet...this thread of is full of losers talking down on the kid.
Haven't seen this much unwarranted negativity directed towards a player.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

[mihaic]

I for one, really enjoy the StarJ offense. It's good. Translates to FIBA too. We need a scorer, he can put the ball in the basket when other players cannot. By the way he did it for Knicks in the playoffs too, when IQ couldn't.

He has a positive attitude, and loves to play for the Raptors.

All good for me, I'd rather focus on how can we get him to improve his defense.

In my assessment, he is the type of player that can rise to the occasion and play better than he is.

[Scase]

Scottie would absolutely not be on the trade block before RJ, that is a molten core of the planet level of hot take

Who said that?

I actually don't see RJ as the guy that needs to get better or even the guy that might get shipped out.

Out of Barnes, IQ & Gradey, RJ is the only one with a definitive elite skills.

Suggesting he isn't the one to be shipped out infers the others would be more likely to be shipped out than him.

In no world if you lined up IQ/RJ/Scottie, would he be the least likely to be moved. But you also think a historically horribly inefficient player with bottom of the NBA defence doesn't need to get better.

[MEDIC]

This is a wild take away lol.

They all have their roles on offence, Scottie and IQ don’t have to find who they are. They just need to be much better at their roles for this team to be a playoff regulars.

Offence isn’t the issue, the issue is that IQ is a poor on ball defender, RJ is a terrible on ball defender and Scottie is decent at it but he isn’t great enough to mask the others deficiencies on defence.

Scottie needs to Master a few offensive moves to become a reliable iso scorer. Right now he is a jack of all trades, master of none type scorer. That won't cut it as the #1 guy.

Quick needs to learn how to run a team.

I agree with you about the defense. These guys all need to get better (Darko does as well). Masai also need to find his next OG.. Everyone needs to play a role in improving the defense.

[MEDIC]

Scottie would absolutely not be on the trade block before RJ, that is a molten core of the planet level of hot take

Who said that?

I actually don't see RJ as the guy that needs to get better or even the guy that might get shipped out.

Out of Barnes, IQ & Gradey, RJ is the only one with a definitive elite skills.

Suggesting he isn't the one to be shipped out infers the others would be more likely to be shipped out than him.

In no world if you lined up IQ/RJ/Scottie, would he be the least likely to be moved. But you also think a historically horribly inefficient player with bottom of the NBA defence doesn't need to get better.

Yeah. That's not what I was suggesting. Later in the post I was suggesting that Gradey would ultimately be the guy that would be developed and shipped out (with other assets) in order to upgrade the roster..

What I was trying to say is right now RJ has a definitive skillset as an off the ball scorer & transition scorer. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective.

Scottie & IQ will have the bulk of the ball handling duties & will need to learn how to be high level scorers and faciltators within Darko's system. Like another poster said, RJ is closer to mastering his role on offense than IQ & Barnes.

RJ has the more simple offensive role between the 3, but I think this is where he will excel.

[RoteSchroder]

Also, as much as I think both Tatum and Brown are over-rated, they are much easier to build around - especially Tatum. Scottie is not that malleable. The FO has committed to him as the center-piece of this roster. IQ is a near perfect guard complement for him offensively because of his ability to shoot and play both on and off ball. Once you have those 2 in place, your choices at the other 3 pots become much narrower and needs to complement that build.

You can't just put any "tier 2/tier 3" wing and c around them, especially if RJ is in the mix. You would need an elite 3+D guy (OG, Bridges) and a rim protecting center with range (Porzingis, Turner). These are some of the hardest profiles to find and most expensive to acquire.

I personally just don't think having or not having RJ changes our goal.

If we replace RJ with anything less than a two way player (e.g. CJ McCollum, Donovan Mitchell), we'll still need an OG/Bridges prototype. So we need a two way player regardless.

If we have Scottie/IQ/RJ, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype, and to a lesser extent an OG/Bridges prototype

If we only have Scottie/IQ, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype

If we only have Scottie, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype

If we start from scratch, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype


Similarly, barring we get a superstar and the entire dynamics of the team changes, we need a high level defensive C no matter what the situation. A 3 point shooting C isn't an absolute necessity to become contenders, but it sure as does help.

Gobert (non-existent)
McDaniels (mediocre)
Edwards (ok)
Conley (good)
KAT (good)

Scottie (mediocre)
RJ (ok)
IQ (good)

[MEDIC]

I'll be honest.........Barnes needs to become Lebron-lite in order for this to work. Top 10 player. He's got some work to do.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

RJ comes home...
Starts playing the basketball of his life, putting up all-star numbers.
Then he goes to the Olympics to try and win us a medal & has so far been the best player in the tournament.

Yet...this thread of is full of losers talking down on the kid.
Haven't seen this much unwarranted negativity directed towards a player.

A plethora of posters would likely agree that you direct more unwarranted positivity towards players than any other member of the forum and none of them are calling you a loser for it. Now go sit in the corner and think about your words.

[HumbleRen]

Also, as much as I think both Tatum and Brown are over-rated, they are much easier to build around - especially Tatum. Scottie is not that malleable. The FO has committed to him as the center-piece of this roster. IQ is a near perfect guard complement for him offensively because of his ability to shoot and play both on and off ball. Once you have those 2 in place, your choices at the other 3 pots become much narrower and needs to complement that build.

You can't just put any "tier 2/tier 3" wing and c around them, especially if RJ is in the mix. You would need an elite 3+D guy (OG, Bridges) and a rim protecting center with range (Porzingis, Turner). These are some of the hardest profiles to find and most expensive to acquire.

I personally just don't think having or not having RJ changes our goal.

If we replace RJ with anything less than a two way player (e.g. CJ McCollum, Donovan Mitchell), we'll still need an OG/Bridges prototype. So we need a two way player regardless.

If we have Scottie/IQ/RJ, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype, and to a lesser extent an OG/Bridges prototype

If we only have Scottie/IQ, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype

If we only have Scottie, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype

If we start from scratch, we need a Tatum/Brown/Anthony Edwards prototype


Similarly, barring we get a superstar and the entire dynamics of the team changes, we need a high level defensive C no matter what the situation. A 3 point shooting C isn't an absolute necessity to become contenders, but it sure as does help.

Gobert (non-existent)
McDaniels (mediocre)
Edwards (ok)
Conley (good)
KAT (good)

Scottie (mediocre)
RJ (ok)
IQ (good)

Main difference is, Gobert is a generational defender, McDaniels is a top 15 defensive player, Edwards can be all defensive caliber in the playoffs, KAT is a great team defender and Conley is above average at best.

I don’t think we’ll have much issues on offence, it all comes down to our defence. We’re very behind the 8 ball off rip due to RJ and IQ as a collective being poor on ball defenders. Doesn’t mean it’s impossible but it’s just starting from a very low floor on the defensive end.

[bballsparkin]

I remember watching RJ during the season and thinking at times "wow, his defence can be pretty bad at times". Maybe it's his feet like mentioned before. I definitely don't think it's effort. He was one of the few fun things to watch at the end of the RS. And he's been great at the Olympics. Hopefully the defence and shooting improve gradually.

[PushDaRock]

This is a wild take away lol.

They all have their roles on offence, Scottie and IQ don’t have to find who they are. They just need to be much better at their roles for this team to be a playoff regulars.

Offence isn’t the issue, the issue is that IQ is a poor on ball defender, RJ is a terrible on ball defender and Scottie is decent at it but he isn’t great enough to mask the others deficiencies on defence.

Scottie needs to Master a few offensive moves to become a reliable iso scorer. Right now he is a jack of all trades, master of none type scorer. That won't cut it as the #1 guy.

Quick needs to learn how to run a team.

I agree with you about the defense. These guys all need to get better (Darko does as well). Masai also need to find his next OG.. Everyone needs to play a role in improving the defense.

Yeah, I would much rather he had a go to move and then a counter for it, he's got a bunch of different ones instead and none of them are that efficient. His best move right now is pretty much drive with force, power layup and then putbacks off his own misses.

The other thing would be efficiency. Bare minimum for a #1 scorer is probably around 59% TS and 53% eFG. Most players also don't get more efficient while also increasing their scoring at the same time. So, a lot of things are working against him right now being even a #1 option on a bad team much less a good one.

[HKBOY]

RJ is elite at driving to the rim and finishing through contact. He is not a good shooter off the dribble but he is a decent three point shooter when he is open. His D is average to slightly below average at worst, he is around Norm's level as a defender, definitely much better than DeMar and Gradey.

His passing has also been underrated, you can't average 4 assists per game if you have bad court vision and play off the ball most of the time.

I actually think RJ is the perfect wing to complement Barnes and our future #1, hopefully that would be Flagg or Bailey. If not, Masai needs to target someone like Brooks or Dort to be the POA defender.

[Got Nuffin]

i disagree with the DD comparisons, rj has the ability to play off-ball and make threes something DD struggled with which made him harder to fit in lineups

Absolutely. RJ is best when he's NOT the one setting up the play. When he does get the ball he is putting constant pressure on the rim (something I wish Scottie could learn a bit about) and his 3 point jumper is just gravy when it's falling. He rarely stands there massaging the ball and dribbling the clock away the way Demar would. He's a slasher and although he doesn't have the vision of someone like Barnes, he is unselfish and getting better and swinging the ball when the defence collapses.

Not every 3rd option role player has to be some static 3&D corner shooter. Hell, we had that with Anunoby and our offence was horrendous.

I think the pressure is not on RJ to drastically improve, it's actually on Quickley who the organisation IS betting on become a focal point on offence. He is older than RJ and struggles as much defensively at times.

So imo there is no monkey on RJ's back. We're lucky he is developing into a nice 3rd option OR 6th man.

[MEDIC]

I think the pressure is not on RJ to drastically improve, it's actually on Quickley who the organisation IS betting on become a focal point on offence. He is older than RJ and struggles as much defensively at times.

So imo there is no monkey on RJ's back. We're lucky he is developing into a nice 3rd option OR 6th man.

Yup. Basically what I was trying to say in an earlier post..

The pressure is on IQ (& Scottie) to develop specific elite offensive skills so they can surpass RJ as lead scorer.

You can't have an off the ball scorer leading your team in scoring. It won't work in the playoffs. You need repeatable, efficient iso scoring. Something the team does not currently have.