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

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

Edmonton Journal20 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.
Article content
Article content
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?'
Article content
Article content
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.
Article content
Article content
Chad Reeb @reeber93: 'Assuming RJ is no longer traded, how worried are you about spacing and defence with the starting group?'
Article content
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).
Article content
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

RODEO NOTES, Day 3: Shelby Boisjoi-Meged lighting quick in victory
RODEO NOTES, Day 3: Shelby Boisjoi-Meged lighting quick in victory

Calgary Herald

time14 hours ago

  • Calgary Herald

RODEO NOTES, Day 3: Shelby Boisjoi-Meged lighting quick in victory

The local cowgirl has done her city, province and country proud … Article content Two days after making history with the first-ever breakaway roping go-round win at the Calgary Stampede main rodeo, Shelby Boisjoi-Meged, of Langdon, Alta., was a second-time day-money victor. Article content Her lightning-quick 2.6-second time Sunday afternoon shoots her through to Showdown Sunday as the top qualifier over the first three days of the Stampede show. Article content Article content Boisjoi-Meged will be joined from Pool A by Colorado's Kinlie Brennise and Oklahoma's Cheyanne McCartney. The 1-2-3 qualifiers respectively wrapped up $14,500, $14,375 and $9,750. Article content Article content The only other Albertan — and Canadian — to advance through to Showdown Sunday among the 21 Pool A rodeo finalists was Stampede veteran Scott Guenthner. Article content The Provost cowboy was king of bull-doggers in Pool A with $18,000 pocketed from the three rounds. Included in the massive money haul was his second-place $5,500 payday picked up Sunday, after he timed in at 4.7 seconds. The day-money winner ahead of Guenthner was Justin Shaffer, with a 4.3-second run. Article content With that victory, Shaffer snuck into third spot in the three-day aggregate. His $10,250 collection joins Guenthner and Florida's Kyle Irwin as the Pool A steer-wrestling qualifiers for Showdown Sunday. Article content Article content Article content Again. Article content But he wants more from the final day than what has transpired the last two years. Article content 'I have yet to make the short-round here (on Showdown Sunday) — that one's eluding me still,' said the Texas bareback artist. 'I've been one hole out and two holes out (the last two years). Article content 'I've been really close, but this year is going to be the year.' Article content Franks secured his spot Sunday with a 79.5-point effort on Erotic Tango, good enough for a sixth-place draw, a $500 pay-hole and the $13,000 top-spot aggregate in bareback. Article content With the day-money win Sunday, Louisiana's Waylon Bourgeois — on an 88-point ride aboard Expose Not — advanced alongside Franks out of Pool A to Showdown Sunday. As did young Mason Stuller, a 21-year-old Oregon bareback artist, who was second Sunday with an 87.5 score on Welcome Delivery.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store