RJ Barrett addressed the Canadian media for the primary time Monday since being acquired by the Toronto Raptors in a commerce with the New York Knicks on Saturday.
Barrett was chosen by the Knicks with the third total decide within the 2019 NBA Draft and performed the primary four-plus seasons of his profession within the Massive Apple however is originally from Toronto.
The Duke product was picked up by the NBA’s lone staff north of the border together with fourth-year guard Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round decide in change for standout defensive small ahead OG Anunoby, fourth-year large man Valuable Achiuwa and fourth-year level guard Malachi Flynn.
Barrett and Quickley helped New York’s star pair in level guard Jalen Brunson and All-Star energy ahead Julius Randle to steer the Knicks to their highest win complete (47) in 10 years final season. The staff additionally made the Jap Convention semifinals for the primary time since 2013.
The Raptors new southpaw has been at the center of scores of trade rumors since 2022, together with heavy chatter of potential offers with the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers.
Barrett has appeared in not less than 70 video games every of the final three seasons (together with all 72 within the pandemic-altered 2020-21 marketing campaign) and had been a gradual pressure in New York’s beginning lineup. He is averaging 18.2 factors and profession lows in rebounds (4.3), assists (2.4) and minutes per recreation (29.5) throughout 26 contests this season whereas producing a .423/.331/.831 capturing line.
The Knicks wish to make their third postseason within the final 4 campaigns this spring, whereas the Raptors are in a little bit of a rebuild.
Since successful its first championship in franchise historical past in 2019 and making the Jap Convention semifinals within the NBA “bubble” in 2020, Toronto has solely made the playoffs as soon as within the final three years. The Raptors went 27-45 within the 2020-21 marketing campaign and certified for the event at 48-34 in the course of the 2021-22 season (eradicated within the first spherical), earlier than lacking the sector in 2022-23.
Barrett and Quickley be a part of first-year head coach Darko Rajakovic in what Raptors followers hope is a fast turnaround this winter, as they closed 2023 at 12-20 to start the most recent season.
