RJ Barrett’s future could be the thing that puts Malik Monk back on the Raptors’ radar.
Toronto has been tied to Monk before, but the fit never quite clicked when the idea was to flip Barrett’s contract and slot Monk in as a direct replacement. At the time, Monk’s defense was a concern, and his three-point shot wasn’t falling at the level the Raptors needed. In other words, he just didn’t solve the problem.
That picture has changed. With Kawhi Leonard on the roster and several hefty contracts already on the books, moving Barrett now feels close to inevitable, especially if Ja’Kobe Walter keeps trending upward and proves to be a cleaner match alongside the other four starters than Barrett has been.
And Monk wouldn’t have to be the Barrett replacement anyway. Walter could slide into the starting five as the 3-point specialist and perimeter defender, while Monk would bring scoring off the bench alongside Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead. Toronto would be asking him to juice the second unit, not carry the same job Barrett does.
That matters because Monk’s shooting last season actually gives the idea some real juice. He knocked down almost 40% of his threes on 5.1 attempts per game across 62 games. If he can live anywhere near that number in Toronto, it changes the math for the Raptors’ offense.
His defensive shortcomings would also be easier to stomach in this setting. Toronto would have plenty of cover around him with Scottie Barnes, Shead, Walter, Murray-Boyles, and Leonard all offering support on that end.
That’s why another swing at a Kings deal makes sense. The Raptors have also been connected to Domantas Sabonis, but that path looks tougher because Sacramento has no interest in Jakob Poeltl’s questionable contract.
If Toronto does explore a Barrett move, the Kings could be the team to watch. Barrett reportedly had trade interest over the summer after his playoff performance, and it remains to be seen whether that carries into the deadline. Sacramento has a logjam at shooting guard to sort through, and Barrett would give them the kind of scorer and creator they need at the three.
There’s also Scott Perry’s history with Barrett. The Kings general manager drafted him with the New York Knicks, so he may view Barrett more favorably than some of his peers around the league.
Walter’s development is a big part of this conversation, too. On paper, he fits much more naturally next to Barnes, Leonard, Immanuel Quickley, and Poeltl because he can fill the 3-and-D role.
And in the playoffs, he showed he could handle a bigger stage. After some early struggles, he shot better than 40% from three in each of the final three games and scored 24 points in a huge Game 6 win that kept Toronto alive.
That doesn’t mean the Raptors have to rush anything. A Barrett trade won’t happen immediately. But Toronto can still keep testing Walter in bigger minutes and late-game situations while it sorts out the best direction with Barrett’s expiring salary.
In Other News...
RJ Barrett Opens Up About Watching The Knicks Win Without Him
RJ Barretts first season in Toronto gave Raptors fans plenty to track, and now hes adding a little more perspective to the conversation after watching his old Knicks teammates celebrate a championship run without him. Barrett said his feelings were complicated at first, the kind of reaction that comes naturally when a player sees a former team reach the top after moving on from him. Even so, he made it clear the bitterness did not last, and that he was ultimately happy for the guys he once shared the floor with in New York.
For Toronto, the more relevant part of Barretts comments may be the way he turned the focus back to what comes next. He had an encouraging message for Raptors fans about the season ahead, pointing to the teams added talent and the need for the building to stay behind them. Barrett has already shown he can be a useful piece in Torontos plans, and his outlook suggested there is a belief inside the locker room that better basketball is ahead if the group settles in and the support follows. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Just Got A Reminder About One Recent Roster Cut
The Raptors have already made a quick decision on one of their newer backcourt pieces, converting Jaden Bradley from a two-way deal into a standard contract after taking him 50th overall in the draft. It is another sign that Toronto wants to see what it has in the rookie guard, who arrived with some buzz after a productive senior season at Arizona and has already moved from fringe depth to a more secure spot on the roster.
Now the opening Bradley leaves behind is expected to be filled by Malachi Smith, a guard Brooklyn recently waived before Toronto steps in with a two-way contract. For the Raptors, it is a small but meaningful bit of roster churn, the kind that often says as much about how a team is sorting through its developmental pipeline as any headline move does. [Read more 🡒]
RJ Barrett Could Be Headed For A Tough Raptors Crossroads
RJ Barretts place in Toronto has quickly become one of the more interesting front-burner issues around the Raptors as the team continues navigating a tight financial picture. With his contract set to expire after the upcoming season, Barrett has emerged in trade talk, and the appeal is obvious from the Raptors side: he is still young enough to matter, productive enough to draw interest, and on a deal that could make him a valuable chip if the front office decides to keep flexibility in mind.
At the same time, Barrett has already given Toronto one of its more memorable recent playoff moments, which makes the situation feel more complicated than a simple salary decision. The Raptors know what he can look like when the stage gets bigger, but the next step is less clear, especially with the possibility that his time in Toronto could reach a crossroads sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]