Raptors mailbag: Trade Barrett or Agbaji and Ja'Kobe Walter's place in rotation

Edmonton Journal

20 hours ago

The somewhat new-look Toronto Raptors organization is heading to Las Vegas for Summer League complete with a loaded roster. For Part 2 of our July mailbag we got some questions about that group of prospects, more on Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster and RJ Barrett.
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Andres Del Campo @AndyDlief: 'The feeling I get from many members of the media is that RJ Barrett is viewed as expendable. Why do Raps always chase away good players who want to stay in Toronto?'
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RW: Barrett is mentioned as expendable mostly because of his contract and a busy situation on the wing. If you're referring to DeMar DeRozan and Pascal Siakam with the last part I have mixed thoughts. DeRozan, like Barrett (especially as a Raptor), is a rare scoring machine lacking a consistent three-point shot and a major liability defensively. I don't see Barrett as being as poor defensively as DeRozan, especially after he made strides this season, partly because of more dedication to that side of the game, but the advanced stats show he doesn't really drive winning. Toronto believes in advanced metrics and in winning players so even though Barrett is a great example for Canadian fans, does have many good qualities as a player and loves being here, they will have to explore the market for him to ease luxury tax and roster concerns down the line.
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Chad Reeb @reeber93: 'Assuming RJ is no longer traded, how worried are you about spacing and defence with the starting group?'
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RW: I don't think Barrett will be moved until the New Year, at the earliest. More concerned with spacing than with defence as Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes are elite defenders and I think Brandon Ingram is about average. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are below average defensively, but both have their moments. Plus I could see Barrett being replaced by Ochai Agbaji pretty early in games (a big upgrade defensively and from three) allowing RJ to cook as the lead scorer on the bench (even though he'll start).
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The spacing will be a bit rough, unless Barnes takes big steps forward as a three-point shooter. Poeltl is a total non-threat from out there, Barnes was terrible from three last season, Barrett, as mentioned, is inconsistent, while Quickley is elite and Ingram can be, but prefers to operate in the mid-range.