All-Star swingman Scottie Barnes will again carry much of Toronto’s burden in 2024-25.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Garrett Temple
- Additions: Bruno Fernando (free agent), Davion Mitchell (trade)
- Draft: Ja’Kobe Walter (No. 19), Jonathan Mogbo (No. 31), Jamal Shead (No. 45), Ulrich Chomche (No. 57)
- Departures: Mouhamadou Gueye (waived), Jalen McDaniels (to Kings), Gary Trent Jr. (to Bucks), Sasha Vezenkov (waived)
- Unsigned free agents: Jordan Nwora, Malik Williams
Last season
They finished with a thud, going 2-19 to close out a disappointing season that extended this team’s decline from the 2019 championship. Not even a key midseason trade, getting RJ Barrett and Quickley from the Knicks, could prevent another trip to the Draft lottery. Another trade that sent Pascal Siakam to the Pacers removed the last crucial piece from that ’19 team.
At least Barnes managed career highs in points (19.9), rebounds (8.2), assists (6.1), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.5) and took the necessary next step by making the All-Star team, his first. With Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Siakam gone, the Raptors now search for the next face of the franchise. If Barnes makes another All-Star team, it would mean he, and they, are headed in the right direction.
Summer summary
It was a rather mild offseason for a team in transition and searching for an identity. So the Raptors had decisions to make: continue on the road to mediocrity or break it down and start over?
The biggest decision involving the Raptors was ensuring Barrett, Quickley and Barnes stayed together for a while. Toronto gave Barnes a reported five years and $225 million and extended Quickley at a reported five years and $175 million. Barrett’s rookie extension, signed with the Knicks, keeps him under contract through 2026.
Spotlight on
With the Knicks, Quickley showed glimpses of being an NBA starter. That’s why the Raptors swung a deal for him last December and extended his contract this summer. That’s a lot of faith placed in a player who will make his first full-season debut in that position. Speaking of that, is he a true point guard or better off the ball?
How far can the Raptors go?
The ceiling for this team seems to be the Play-In Tournament, if only because they added just a pair of ex-Baylor guards in Mitchell (a former first-round pick by the Kings who didn’t make much traction in Sacramento) and Walter (who comes fairly highly regarded from the Draft). But it’s questionable where they fit in the rotation. If they don’t, this team won’t improve by much.
Therefore, the Raptors will lean heavily on the Quickley-Barrett-Barnes trio in their first full season together, and figure out the rest later. The Raptors could pawn off some of the supporting cast by the trade deadline if the season goes south.
Up next: Oklahoma City Thunder | Previously: Brooklyn Nets
30 Teams in 30 Days: Complete schedule
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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