Kawhi Leonard’s continued absence through Toronto’s first two preseason games has already left RJ Barrett in a tough spot.
With Leonard still not back on the floor, Barrett has slid into the same kind of on-ball role he held for the Raptors during the playoffs. He’s been a major part of the offense, and in some stretches of preseason he’s even looked like the primary option. That may be good for Barrett’s confidence, but it isn’t the setup Toronto ultimately needs.
The Raptors made a major commitment to Leonard so he could be the guy. That means the offense has to tilt toward him once he returns, with Scottie Barnes also ahead of Barrett in the pecking order. Immanuel Quickley, in that structure, would sit behind Leonard and Barnes, with Barrett filling the fourth spot in the offensive hierarchy.
That’s the challenge. Barrett is currently getting the second-largest piece of the offense, and in Toronto’s first preseason game he may have gotten the biggest share.
But that’s not the role he’ll be asked to play when Leonard is active. The adjustment from having the ball in his hands a lot to spending more time off the ball is a real one, especially for a player who thrives on rhythm and often needs time on the shot clock to get comfortable.
Barrett has clearly shown he likes operating with the ball and controlling possessions. When Leonard is available, though, his work shifts. He’ll be in the corners more, asked to contribute without dominating touches, and expected to bring more defensively than he has through preseason so far.
The numbers reflect that reality. Barrett is carrying a 27.7 percent usage rate to start the preseason, the same mark he had in last year’s playoffs when he was Toronto’s No. 2 option. That’s not the profile of a player easing into a reduced role.
None of that is Barrett’s fault. With Leonard sidelined, Toronto needs someone to pick up the slack, and Barrett has done that, just as he did in last year’s playoffs. But Leonard missing the first two preseason games has cost Barrett valuable reps in the role he’ll need to learn once the roster is whole again, and that could make the early part of the season tricky for the Raptors from a chemistry standpoint.
In Other News...
Jakob Poeltl Just Gave Raptors Fans A Reason To Reconsider The Frontcourt
Jakob Poeltls preseason run against the Clippers gave the Raptors something they can always use a little more of up front: signs of life. In Torontos 114-106 win, Poeltl was active for more than 21 minutes and looked sharper than he had in previous outings, with better movement and effort showing up throughout the night as the team tried to sort out its frontcourt rotation.
The bigger takeaway may be what this kind of performance could mean for the rest of the roster. Torontos coaching staff seems open to exploring how Poeltl fits alongside Collin Murray-Boyles this season, rather than treating the two as a strict either-or choice, and that makes Poeltls return to form more than just a preseason footnote. If he can sustain this level, it could give the Raptors a more functional and flexible look inside. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Added A Giant With A Real Shot To Stick
Toronto is taking a fresh look at Jamarion Sharp, the free agent center set to join the Raptors and compete for a two-way contract. The move adds another big body to a preseason group that is already at 21 players, so the front office will have to clear a spot before Sharp can officially settle in with the club.
Sharps path has been a winding one, even by the standards of a player chasing an NBA foothold. He previously landed a two-way deal with the Clippers before getting waived, then spent most of his time in the G League, where his defensive work earned notice and kept him on the radar of teams looking for size and rim protection. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons May Not Be Done After Locking In Cade Cunninghams Core
Detroits recent run of long-term planning has already changed the shape of its future, with Ausar Thompson secured on a five-year deal and Jalen Duren on a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed extension. For a team trying to build around Cade Cunningham, those moves suggest the Pistons are not just collecting young talent, they are trying to lock in the kind of core that can grow together and stay together.
For the Raptors, the Detroit conversation matters because RJ Barretts name has surfaced in outside trade chatter, even if nothing has been confirmed by either team. A third-party proposal has circulated that would send Barrett to Detroit, but until something more concrete develops, it remains part of the background noise around a Pistons roster that already looks increasingly committed to its next phase. [Read more 🡒]