Scotto: RJ was in trade talks for BI

[WuTang_CMB]

With the Toronto Raptors envisioning a frontcourt of Scottie Barnes and newly extended Brandon Ingram along with former lottery pick Gradey Dick at shooting guard, where does that leave current leading scorer RJ Barrett’s future?

Based on conversations before the deadline, Barrett could be a trade candidate to monitor this summer.

Barrett was discussed in trade talks for Ingram with New Orleans, but the Pelicans preferred the expiring contract of Bruce Brown and stretch-five center Kelly Olynyk, who’s owed $13.45 million next season, league sources told HoopsHype. With Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones already on the wing, the Pelicans didn’t view Barrett as a suitable fit for their roster as talks would have necessitated finding a third team, sources said.

Barrett, a Toronto native, is having the best season of his career, averaging career-highs in points (21.7), rebounds (6.4) and assists (5.6). He’s owed $27.7 million next season and $29.62 million for the 2026-27 season.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-intel-jimmy-butler-trae-young-lamelo-ball-mark-williams-brandon-ingram-kyle-kuzma-raptors-wizards-76ers-mavericks/

[douggood]

Sources told HoopsHype that the Hawks and Pelicans had several three-team trade conversations, which included two of the following four players leaving Atlanta in different trade scenarios for Ingram that ultimately fell through: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, De’Andre Hunter, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Hunter and Bogdanovic were traded to the Cavaliers and Clippers in separate deals.

[WiggOuts]

Maybe it still is a toxic contract after all

[MiamiSPX]

ForeverTFC discovering that RJ is not untouchable.

[mademan]

Maybe it still is a toxic contract after all

Decent stats on a losing team doesnt wash the toxic off that fast, which kinda sucks. We have 2 star forward ball handlers on the team and a decent PG...im not sure where RJ fits into all of this.

[Jerry Lucas]

Not surprised by this at all. RJ has always seemed to me like an asset that Masai is going to try to pump-and-dump.

[Potential]

Saving the RJ trade package for the KD or Zion trade this summer

[Mikistan]

Repeater tax scares teams

[MEDIC]

I don't believe it. I believe it was talked about (why wouldn't it be?), but I don't believe the Raps were trying to "unload" him.

Why trade a healthy Barrett for an injury prone BI?

BI sn't Kawhi.

[DG88]

Not surprised. Barrett is extension eligible and with all the money we have tied up to Barnes/IQ/BI it was going to be hard to stay under the tax with another draft pick coming our way in the lottery. Barrett is the obvious candidate to trade and get some good value out of.

[ForeverTFC]

Maybe it still is a toxic contract after all

Only 2 years left after this year and declines as % of the cap in the high teens. Definitely not toxic anymore, he's just not easy to plug into any roster. I'm hopeful a team or two will emerge...

ForeverTFC discovering that RJ is not untouchable.

[DKB333]

I definitely do not view Dick as being a playery worhty of starting on a winning team. I feel as though he is best suited in a role coming off the bench due to him being a very poor defender. RJ is obviously not even an average defender if I am being honest, but he is better on that end then Dick. Walter has shown some promise though on that end of the court and I value him over Dick moving forward if the Raptors move off of RJ. I do not think they will. They want players who want to play in Toronto and I imagine that RJ is happy to be here. His play on the court since being in Toronto has improved since his Knicks days. Needs to be able to hit free throws though. That drives me crazy. They are called FREE throws for a reason.

[earthtone]

I don't believe it. I believe it was talked about (why wouldn't it be?), but I don't believe the Raps were trying to "unload" him.

Why trade a healthy Barrett for an injury prone BI?

BI sn't Kawhi.

Yah, I'm with you on this one. I don't think you can discuss the frameworks of a Brandon Ingram trade without at least mentioning RJ's name, but I have a hard time believing he was ever a realistic part of the trade package

[tsherkin]

It becomes a more interesting comparison of who to keep now that we've seen his improvement in passing, defense and scoring with someone else helping to set him up. If Quick and BI are moderately healthy next year, then the one to move might not be RJ...

[tecumseh18]

Going forward, it depends what the draft yields. If it's one of of the guards in the top 5, then either IQ or RJ must go.

[HumbleRen]

RJ just isn’t valuable around the league. No good team would want him and bad teams would rather have an expiring on their books.

He’s just kinda meant for teams like us or a placeholder on directionless teams. It’s a shame because he’s clearly a great culture guy and hard worker but non spacing wing who can’t defend just doesn’t have juice like that.

[DKB333]

Going forward, it depends what the draft yields. If it's one of of the guards in the top 5, then either IQ or RJ must go.

Taking SGs back-to-back in the draft after trading Anunoby for two SGs you are correct in that if they end up drafting another guard this summer that someone will probably need to go. I do not watch college ball until the tournament, but the big from Duke seems to be the cleanest fit. If they pick him hopefully he is not Mo Bamba 2.0.

[YogurtProducer]

Not surprised. Barrett is extension eligible and with all the money we have tied up to Barnes/IQ/BI it was going to be hard to stay under the tax with another draft pick coming our way in the lottery. Barrett is the obvious candidate to trade and get some good value out of.

Especially if we draft a guard in a guard heavy top 5.

Barrett + Poeltl being packaged for a star this summer would be the dream. Please Giannis ask out and want to come here for some reason

[JB7]

What RJ, IQ and BI all need is a strong performance from the team overall next season. If the team rapidly rises in the East (which would not be hard at all considering how bad the Easy is currently constructed), along with their continued production, then the values of these 3 will rise.

[dTox]

RJ is a difficult fit in most SL, it's why he isn't a sought after commodity, I suspect Masai will find a taker once he becomes an expiring contract. If we draft a wing with the lotto, then I suspect we probably see at least 2 of the 3 traded; between RJ, Gradey, and Ja'kobe. I am most attached to Ja'Kobe, he is the most intriguing prospect of the bunch.