<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-nets-raptors-rj-barrett-trade-is-something-to-monitor');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Nets-Raptors RJ Barrett trade is something to monitor');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RJ-Barrett-9-brings-the-ball-up-court-against-Brooklyn-Nets-forward-Ziaire-Williams-8-during-the-fourth-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Nets-Raptors RJ Barrett trade is something to monitor</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-24T11:12:32-07:00">June 24th, 11:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-24T11:12:32-07:00">June 24th, 11:12am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Trade talks between the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/2025-nba-draft-big-board-5-0-76ers-final-ace-bailey-vj-edgecombe-decision">Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets involving forward RJ Barrett</a> have surfaced ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, with league insiders indicating that both teams could explore a deal centered around draft positioning and talent consolidation.</p><p>According to ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel, Toronto has remained active in trade discussions involving Barrett, who is entering the second year of a four-year, $107 million contract. The 25-year-old forward is reportedly part of Toronto’s broader strategy to reshape its roster and return to playoff contention.</p><p>“Toronto is an interesting team to discuss entering the NBA Draft,” Siegel reported. “After having interest in Durant, Masai Ujiri is expected to remain aggressive in his hunt for more talent and to get the Raptors back in a playoff-contending position. As a result, the Raptors have continued to dangle RJ Barrett in trade discussions with multiple teams, sources said.”</p><p>Michael Scotto of HoopsHype also confirmed the team’s ongoing efforts to gauge interest in Barrett.</p><p>“Toronto has also continued to gauge the trade market on RJ Barrett, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto reported. “Barrett, who’s owed $57.32 million over the next two seasons, averaged a career-high 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.”</p><h2><b>Raptors may trade RJ Barrett, No. 9 pick as Nets explore 2025 NBA Draft options</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RJ-Barrett-9-drives-against-Philadelphia-76ers-guard-Jared-Butler-12-during-the-fourth-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Barrett, a Toronto native and former No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, joined the Raptors midway through the 2023–24 season as part of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-news-rj-barrett-reveals-immediate-reaction-trade-knicks-toronto">deal that sent OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks</a>. In his first full season with Toronto, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on 46.8% shooting from the field and 35% from three-point range over 58 games.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-why-nets-2025-drafts-most-desirable-landing-spots">Nets, who currently hold four first-round picks in the upcoming draft</a> — Nos. 8, 19, 26, and 27 — along with a second-round pick, are believed to be looking to package assets to move up or acquire proven talent. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-rumors-2-draft-targets-if-toronto-trades-down">Raptors possess the No. 9 and No. 39 picks</a>.</p><p>“Is there a potential trade brewing between the Nets and Raptors that could see Barrett and the ninth pick go to Brooklyn?” Siegel wrote. “This is something many around the league are keeping an eye on, as there is no guarantee Toronto will keep the ninth pick in this year’s draft.”</p><p>Brooklyn’s interest in acquiring another lottery pick aligns with speculation that the franchise is weighing a larger roster retool. Barrett’s age and scoring ability may also make him an attractive piece for a team seeking a wing with upside and experience.</p><p>The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. With both teams holding significant draft capital and facing roster questions, league executives are closely monitoring how Toronto and Brooklyn might act in the days ahead.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Nets-Raptors RJ Barrett trade is something to monitor

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/toronto-raptors/nba-rumors-why-pelicans-didnt-want-rj-barrett-raptors-brandon-ingram-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Why Pelicans didn’t want RJ Barrett in Raptors’ Brandon Ingram trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NBA-rumors-Why-Pelicans-didnt-want-RJ-Barrett-in-Raptors-Brandon-Ingram-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Why Pelicans didn’t want RJ Barrett in Raptors’ Brandon Ingram trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-03T13:03:41-08:00">March 3rd, 1:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-03T14:11:47-08:00">March 3rd, 2:11pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors swung for a big fish at the trade deadline and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/raptors-news-pelicans-trade-brandon-ingram-nba-deadline">acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans</a>. The Raptors traded away Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown, but there were talks that RJ Barrett could have been part of the deal. Surprisingly, the Pelicans <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-intel-jimmy-butler-trae-young-lamelo-ball-mark-williams-brandon-ingram-kyle-kuzma-raptors-wizards-76ers-mavericks/" rel="noopener">showed no interest in him</a>, according to HoopsHype.</p><p>“Barrett was discussed in trade talks for Ingram with New Orleans, but the Pelicans preferred the expiring contract of Bruce Brown and stretch-five center Kelly Olynyk, who’s owed $13.45 million next season, league sources told HoopsHype.</p><p>“With Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones already on the wing, the Pelicans didn’t view Barrett as a suitable fit for their roster as talks would have necessitated finding a third team, sources said,” HoopsHype wrote.</p><p>Though Barrett is having one of the best seasons of his career, the Pelicans didn’t see how the fit with him, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones would work, and they were going to have to find a third team for him.</p><p>The Raptors now have a solid young core of Ingram, Barrett, and Scottie Barnes, and it will be interesting to see what they plan to do with their draft pick. At one point during the season, many thought they would be one of the frontrunners for the top pick and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/raptors-news-toronto-historic-loss-celtics-triggers-cooper-flagg-predictions">possibly be in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes</a>.</p><p>Since then, the Raptors have been winning games, and they’re more on the outside of landing the top pick unless the lottery balls fall in their favor.</p><p>There’s still a chance that Barrett could be on the move this offseason, especially since the Raptors put him in trade talks regarding Ingram. It will be interesting to see what direction they plan on going and what they want their roster to look like for the future.</p><p>As for now, many are waiting to see the debut of Ingram with the Raptors and how he would fit with the current team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Why Pelicans didn’t want RJ Barrett in Raptors’ Brandon Ingram trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-raptors-brandon-ingram-trade-leads-rj-barrett-speculation');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Raptors’ Brandon Ingram trade leads to RJ Barrett speculation');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Raptors-Brandon-Ingram-trade-leads-to-RJ-Barrett-speculation.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Raptors’ Brandon Ingram trade leads to RJ Barrett speculation</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-12T12:54:11-08:00">February 12th, 12:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-12T12:54:11-08:00">February 12th, 12:54pm</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Recently, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-raptors-brandon-ingram-trade-signals-desire-compete-next-year">Toronto Raptors made one of the more surprising moves</a> of the NBA trade deadline by acquiring Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-brandon-ingram-120-million-contract-extension">Ingram has since signed an extension</a> with the franchise to keep him there the next three seasons, giving the Raptors another building block to work with.</p><p>Some have now pointed to wing RJ Barrett as a potentially awkward fit alongside Ingram and fellow forward Scottie Barnes, and recently, NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/jake-fischer-latest-inside-the-brandon?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=157000422&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">shed light on</a> the Raptors’ long-term thinking regarding Ingram, per Marc Stein’s Substack.</p><p>“Ingram’s addition sparks a natural question about Barrett’s fit in all this, since he’s another wing scorer who holds a $25-plus million salary,” reported Fischer. “…Barrett (is) someone who has to be monitored as a potential trade candidate once the offseason arrives.”</p><h2><b>A potentially awkward fit</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Barrett-celebrates.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes will certainly make for a formidable trio who can make things happen on both ends of the floor, there will be questions as to whether or not the team would be better off investing some of its resources into other positions of the floor, including most notably point guard, where Toronto lacks a reliable option at the current juncture.</p><p>Toronto could also use as much shooting as they can get, as Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickley are the only two reliable threats that opposing teams have to gameplan for currently.</p><p>Ingram’s integration into the lineup should solve some of the team’s floor spacing issues, as the former Pelican can score from multiple levels and also create his own shot when he needs to. Ingram also gives the Raptors a degree of defensive versatility due to his immense wingspan and athleticism.</p><p>Still, there will be plenty of questions this offseason as to how Masai Ujiri and company want to allocate their remaining resources, and whether or not moving Barrett may be a part of their plan to do so.</p><p>In any case, the Raptors will take the court for the final time before the All-Star break on Wednesday evening at home vs the Cleveland Cavaliers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Raptors’ Brandon Ingram trade leads to RJ Barrett speculation

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-jokes-playing-status-ahead-likely-return-vs-bucks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ RJ Barrett jokes about playing status ahead of likely return vs. Bucks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RJ-Barrett-jokes-about-playing-status-ahead-of-likely-return-vs.-Bucks.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ RJ Barrett jokes about playing status ahead of likely return vs. Bucks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-06T12:04:05-08:00">January 6th, 12:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-06T12:04:05-08:00">January 6th, 12:04pm</time><address><a>Scotty White</a>Scotty White is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has been in the sports journalism industry since 2020. He has covered athletics at the University of Michigan and is now serving as an Associate Editor, Chicago Bulls beat writer, and Michigan football reporter at ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Toronto Raptors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors are expected to have a healthy lineup for the first time in a while on Monday as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bucks-vs-raptors-prediction-odds-pick-1-6-2025">Toronto is taking on the Milwaukee Bucks</a> at home. One player that has been out recently due to illness is RJ Barrett, but he is expected to play on Monday night. Barrett returned to practice on Sunday, and he is officially listed as questionable for this game against the Bucks.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-immanuel-quickley-drops-massive-line-22-game-absence">Toronto hasn’t had their core healthy</a> at the same at all this season, so Monday night’s game against the Bucks could be a special one. RJ Barrett clearly <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/toronto-raptors-expect-to-have-rj-barrett-back-monday-vs-milwaukee-bucks" rel="noopener">doesn’t want anything to go wrong</a> leading up to the matchup.</p><p>“Don’t jinx it. Don’t jinx it,” Barrett said with a laugh on Sunday, according to an article from <i>Sports Illustrated.</i> “We’re happy. We’re gonna go out there and see what we got.”</p><p>Coming into this game against the Bucks, the Raptors are 8-27 and have one of the worst records in the league. However, something could change now that they have a healthy squad. Barrett thinks that they would have some more wins right now had the team been healthy all year.</p><p>“I feel a lot of these games that we’ve lost that are close, I feel like with all of us out there we’d be able to close kind of that gap where it’s just, you know, make smarter, better decisions,” Barrett said on Sunday. “We’re all really excited.”</p><p>Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic is also excited about this turn of the tide. A healthy team can obviously do wonders all around.</p><p>“I hope now they’re going to be healthy enough that over [the] next month, two, three months, we can really develop that unit and see [how it can] also help us establish our second unit as well,” Rajakovic said.</p><p>When a team is off to such a poor start and only has eight wins over two months into the season, it’s hard to imagine that a turnaround is possible. However, this situation surrounding the Raptors is different. They have obviously had some bad luck in terms of health, and they now have something to build around and be optimistic about.</p><p>There is still plenty of time for the Raptors to make a comeback in the Eastern Conference, and they aren’t that far behind the 10th place postseason cutoff. The Chicago Bulls are currently in 10th place with a 16-19 record, just eight games ahead of the Raptors. Who knows, maybe a healthy Raptors squad with RJ Barrett back could make a surprise run to the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ RJ Barrett jokes about playing status ahead of likely return vs. Bucks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-real-emotions-facing-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'RJ Barrett gets 100% real about emotions in facing Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-news-RJ-Barrett-gets-100-real-about-emotions-in-facing-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>RJ Barrett gets 100% real about emotions in facing Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T23:19:48-08:00">December 9th, 11:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T23:19:48-08:00">December 9th, 11:19pm</time><address><a>Nathan Yasis</a>Nathan Yasis is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, specializing in the NBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>RJ Barrett couldn’t hold back the emotions as he faced his former New York Knicks team. After his Toronto Raptors’ 113-108 loss on Wednesday, Barrett <a href="https://x.com/JLew1050/status/1866329542945615970" rel="noopener">opened up about his feelings</a> meeting his old squad again, with the first anniversary of their split fast approaching on Dec. 30.</p><p>“For me? Oh yeah, for sure. It’s your old team, so there are always emotions. I was one of those people that was there from Day 1, when I got drafted. So, definitely some emotions, for sure,” said Barrett.</p><p>Barrett put forth a strong effort against his former team, contributing 30 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while shooting an efficient 54 percent from the floor.</p><p>The Raptors star also brought the game to a 108-108 tie with 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter. However, his efforts were thwarted as Towns scored five points in the final 36 seconds, sealing the Knicks’ win and dashing Barrett’s chance to get back with his former team.</p><p>Since being traded by the Knicks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-reveals-reasons-breakout-knicks-trade-he-felt-coming">RJ Barrett has made a huge impact on the Toronto Raptors</a>.</p><h2><b>RJ Barrett right at home with the Toronto Raptors</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-RJ-Barrett-against-the-Knicks.jpg"><figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Barrett’s move away from New York proved to be a turning point in his career, granting him the opportunity to return home and thrive in Toronto, where he has embraced a fresh chapter and excelled within the Raptors’ framework.</p><p>Heading into the week, he’s posting career-best averages of 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists during his sixth season in the league.</p><p>The Knicks selected RJ Barrett with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft —a consolation prize following the Knicks’ lottery disappointment in missing out on Zion Williamson and Ja Morant.</p><p>Barret was envisioned as a cornerstone of their future in the post-Carmelo Anthony era. Over the next few seasons, the Duke product displayed significant growth and potential, emerging as a key contributor to the Knicks’ transformation from a rebuilding team into one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders.</p><p>While he has previously faced his former team, Monday’s matchup at Scotiabank Arena carries extra significance, coming just three weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of the trade that brought him to Toronto.</p><h2><b>Barrett moving from the Big Apple back to his hometown</b></h2><p>On December 30, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-rj-barrett-immanuel-quickley-open-up-on-returning-to-play-knicks-after-trade-to-toronto">RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley</a> were traded to the Toronto Raptors in a deal that brought OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks. The Knicks have capitalized on the contributions of their new additions, leveraging their talent to climb the Eastern Conference standings.</p><p>Barrett’s journey with the rebuilding Raptors carries a personal edge: he’s been given a low-pressure chance to reshape the trajectory of his NBA career, and his strong performances so far could firmly position him in the conversation for Most Improved Player honors.</p><p>The 24-year-old’s stint with Toronto has kept him rooted near his hometown of Mississauga, where he remains close to his network of friends and family. Among them is his father, Rowan Barrett, a former standout in Canadian basketball and the current general manager of the country’s men’s national team. Together, the Barretts helped lead Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, earning the team its first Olympic berth since 2000 for the upcoming 2024 Paris Games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

RJ Barrett gets 100% real about emotions in facing Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-reveals-reasons-breakout-knicks-trade-he-felt-coming');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ RJ Barrett reveals reasons for breakout after Knicks trade he felt coming');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-news-RJ-Barrett-reveals-reasons-for-breakout-after-Knicks-trade-he-felt-coming.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ RJ Barrett reveals reasons for breakout after Knicks trade he felt coming</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T13:18:12-08:00">December 9th, 1:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T13:18:12-08:00">December 9th, 1:18pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Other Sports</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett approaches the first anniversary of his trade from the New York Knicks, he revealed the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced throughout the process. After taking the rest of the 2023-24 campaign to adapt, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-enters-vince-carter-territory-after-monster-game-vs-timberwolves">Barrett entered Vince Carter territory this season</a> in a 110-105 win against the Timberwolves. He finished with 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting amidst the best season of his career. Still, he was shocked at the time.</p><p>When Barrett learned about the trade via text message after waking up from a nap, his head spun. However, looking back on it now, deep down, he <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/longform/how-raptors-wing-rj-barrett-ended-up-exactly-where-he-needs-to-be/" rel="noopener">knew</a> the Knicks would move him at some point during the season, per Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.</p><p>“I kind of knew I was going to get traded last year,” Barrett says now, approaching the anniversary of the Dec. 30th deal. “You can tell when you’re treated a certain way.”</p><p>One of Barrett’s teammates, Immanuel Quickley, who was involved in the trade from the Knicks, also saw Barrett’s fateful move coming.</p><p>“Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle — it ain’t that hard to figure out,” Quickley said. “Two guys that were All-Stars, All-NBA? Anybody understands that.”</p><p>Still, when Barrett found out he was heading to the Raptors — a team he grew up cheering for — he considered the move differently.</p><p>“He was jumping around and stuff,” Quickley said. “He was excited to go back home. It was real.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-vs-raptors-prediction-odds-pick-12-9-2024">Raptors will host Barrett’s former team, the Knicks</a>, on Monday.</p><h2><b>How the Raptors’ offense was a better fit for RJ Barrett</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-forward-RJ-Barrett.jpg"><figcaption>Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Understanding the business side of the NBA comes with seeing player movement throughout the regular season. Still, from a basketball standpoint, Barrett understood the benefits the Knicks stood to gain in making such a move mid-season.</p><p>“I think that those guys were so good that we didn’t need the cuts and stuff… they’re going to put the ball in the basket,” Barrett said. “In basketball, sometimes, better offense wins, and it clearly worked, it’s effective… I was able to do my thing [in New York]. It’s just here I’m more efficient.”</p><p>Why’s that the case in contrast to your time with the Knicks?</p><p>“No. 1, the brand of basketball is different. I think it fits my style a little more. The team that we have, we’re young, we run,” Barrett said. “I’ve always been a guy that’s been good in transition, so that always helps… and I think people heard when [Quickley] was like, “He cuts only when he wants to score.” Barrett laughs before continuing. “But I cut more [here] just because I know I have a chance to get [the ball], and even when I don’t get it, I’m not upset about it because I know I’m getting it on the next one… if you cut all the time and you never get the ball, you’re probably not gonna want to cut.”</p><p>The Raptors rank fifth in the NBA in fast-break scoring as a team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ RJ Barrett reveals reasons for breakout after Knicks trade he felt coming

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-news-cleveland-thin-on-wing-against-raptors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs could be thin on the wing against RJ Barrett, Raptors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cavs-news-Cleveland-could-be-thin-on-the-wing-against-RJ-Barrett-Raptors.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs could be thin on the wing against RJ Barrett, Raptors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-24T08:56:41-08:00">November 24th, 8:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-24T08:56:41-08:00">November 24th, 8:56am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After their first extended break, the Cleveland Cavaliers are back in action against the Toronto Raptors. Last time out, the Cavs won against the New Orleans Pelicans 128-108. The Raptors, meanwhile, are on a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-most-pleasant-surprise-early-2024-25-season">two-game winning streak after Toronto defeated</a> the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-105.</p><p>This will be the second of four times <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-what-to-watch-for-raptors">Cleveland and Toronto face off this year</a>. In their first matchup, the Cavs won in Toronto against the Raptors 136-106. So, heading into this matchup, Cleveland will look to remain undefeated against Toronto, while the Raptors will be looking for revenge.</p><p>Toronto is 4-12 and has the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Things are dire for the Raptors, who are only one game ahead of the last-place Washington Wizards. This could be a trap game for Cleveland based on who is available for Toronto.</p><p>Unfortunately, both teams are <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-11-24_10AM.pdf" rel="noopener">dealing with numerous injuries</a> heading into this matchup, making this a grind for either side.</p><h2><b>Who is unavailable for the Raptors against Cleveland?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Donovan-Mitchell-pass-Cavs-Raptors.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Against the Cavs, Toronto will be without Bruce Brown (return to conditioning), D.J. Carton (NBA G League assignment), Ulrich Chomche (NBA G League assignment), Kelly Olynyk (back), Immanuel Quickley (UCL tear) and Ja’Kobe Walter (NBA G League assignment).</p><p>Bruno Fernando, meanwhile, is dealing with a right ankle sprain and is listed as questionable. Fernando’s availability will depend on how his ankle is feeling, so he will likely be a game-time decision.</p><p>If Fernando is unavailable for the Raptors against Cleveland, it’ll be his third game in a row he’s missed. The 26-year-old big man is averaging 3.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 9.1 minutes across his 11 appearances this season.</p><p>Brown, meanwhile, is close to returning to action for Toronto. The veteran guard has yet to suit up this season due to a knee injury but appears close to returning to the floor.</p><p>Olynyk has been dealing with a nagging back injury that has sidelined him for several games. It’s unsure when the veteran big man will return to the floor for Toronto.</p><p>Finally, Quickley, the star guard, is expected to miss nearly a month after suffering a partial UCL tear in his left elbow.</p><h2><b>Who is unavailable for the Cavs against Toronto?</b></h2><p>Like the Raptors, the Cavs will be without several key contributors. Caris LeVert (knee), Max Strus (ankle), and Dean Wade (ankle) remain sidelined. Meanwhile, Emoni Bates (NBA G League assignment, knee surgery) is still unavailable after offseason knee surgery.</p><p>Cleveland’s matchup with Toronto will be the 19th straight regular-season game without Strus. The Cavs sharpshooter sprained his right ankle during individual workouts. After confirming the sprain’s severity, it was announced that Strus would be reevaluated after six weeks of treatment and rehabilitation.</p><p>Wade, meanwhile, suffered an ankle sprain in Cleveland’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. The floor-spacing big man <a href="https://x.com/twithersAP/status/1858331884868276464" rel="noopener">was seen exiting the arena</a> in a walking boot postgame. Not having Wade available is a massive blow to a Cavs team dealing with injuries all season. Wade is arguably one of Cleveland’s best defenders and would help slow down Boston’s perimeter-heavy attack.</p><p>Okoro, who also suffered an ankle sprain against the Hornets, is questionable, and the decision on whether or not he’ll play will be made at game time.</p><p>Sam Merill (ankle) and Darius Garland (groin) are returning to the Cavs’ lineup after both were sidelined against the Pelicans. Both will give Cleveland a much-needed scoring punch – especially from the perimeter. However, with how banged up the Cavs are, it’ll force head coach Kenny Atkinson to get creative with his lineups.</p><p>“I think we did the best we could with distributing minutes,” Atkinson said to ClutchPoints after the Cavs defeated the Hornets. “You can’t fight the schedule. You just can’t. You’re going to end up being short-handed too much.</p><p>“So I’m a little disappointed we had a couple of guys go down tonight. But this is a tough league. This is a tough league physically. I don’t know if the fans can even grasp how hard it is.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs could be thin on the wing against RJ Barrett, Raptors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-news-what-to-watch-for-raptors');   ga('set', 'title', 'What to watch for when Cavs face RJ Barrett, Raptors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cavs-news-What-to-watch-when-Cleveland-faces-R.J.-Barrett-Raptors.jpg"></figure><h1>What to watch for when Cavs face RJ Barrett, Raptors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-24T08:08:40-08:00">November 24th, 8:08am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-24T14:07:53-08:00">November 24th, 2:07pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After their first break in the season, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers return home to host RJ Barrett and the Toronto Raptors. Last time out, the Cavs defeated the Pelicans 128-100. Meanwhile, in their latest contest, the Raptors won 110-105 over the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>This will be the second of four times Cleveland and Toronto face off this year. In their first matchup, the Cavs won in Toronto against the Raptors 136-106. So, heading into this matchup, Cleveland will look to remain undefeated against Toronto, while the Raptors will be looking for revenge.</p><p>Toronto is 4-12 and has the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Things are dire for the Raptors, who are only one game ahead of the last-place Washington Wizards. This could be a trap game for Cleveland based on who is available for Toronto. Here’s how the Cavs can maintain control of the game from wire to wire to ensure the Raptors go extinct.</p><h2><b>It’ll be a battle on the boards between the Cavs and Raptors</b></h2><p>Despite their lackluster record, Toronto is a team that plays hard on either end of the floor. Heading into this matchup, the Raptors are eighth in the NBA in rebounding, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?sort=REB&amp;dir=-1" rel="noopener">averaging 45.3 per game</a>. The Cavs, meanwhile, have averaged 42.6 rebounds per game, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?sort=REB&amp;dir=-1" rel="noopener">which is suitable for only 21st</a> in the NBA. So, heading into this matchup, whoever sets the tone on the glass could dictate how this game goes for either side.</p><p>For Toronto, big man Jakob Poeltl has led the Raptors in rebounding, averaging 11.9 rebounds per game. More impressively, in his last five games, Poeltl has averaged 13.0 rebounds per game, serving as a deciding factor on the boards in Toronto’s two-game winning streak.</p><p>Cleveland must slow down Poeltl to prevent Toronto from winning three in a row. That responsibility will fall on the Cavs’ big man duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who combine for 23.2 rebounds per game. If Allen and Mobley can contain Poletl on the boards and use their rebounding to dictate the flow, then the Cavs will have an easier time taking care of the Raptors.</p><h2><b>The return of RJ Barrett for Toronto against Cleveland</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Donovan-Mitchell-dribble-Cavs-Raptors.jpg"><figcaption>Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The first time these teams squared off, the Raptors didn’t have Canada’s RJ Barrett available. While Barrett’s availability might not have made the difference in the first matchup, he is a fundamental difference-maker for Toronto.</p><p>Barrett has averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 34.2 minutes per game this season. As the Raptors leading scorer, he’ll be the head of the snake on offense for Toronto and Cleveland’s primary defensive focus.</p><p>Moreover, the Cavs need Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to match Barrett’s scoring. If the Cavs do that, then this matchup is much more palatable for Cleveland – especially with the questions the Cavs are dealing with on the wing.</p><h2><b>The Cavs’ revolving door on the wing</b></h2><p>The Cavs were limited on the perimeter in their matchup against the Pelicans. Against New Orleans, Cleveland was without Max Strus, Caris LeVert, Dean Wade, and Isaac Okoro.</p><p>So, the Cavs were forced to get creative in their approach on the perimeter, plugging, and playing options to maximize their on-court options. Cleveland gave the starting nod to rookie Jaylon Tyson against New Orleans at the three. He provided an immediate impact by scoring an efficient 16 points on 7-12 shooting.</p><p>Tyson might get the start again against Toronto with LeVert, Strus, and Wade unavailable, and Okoro considered a game-time decision. It will also force Cleveland’s coaching staff to remain creative.</p><p>The Cavs might play more three-guard lineups featuring Garland and Mitchell, along with either Ty Jerome or Sam Merrill. Cleveland also could play bigger with Georges Niang as a small forward. Regardless, the Cavs are dealing with a revolving door on the wing that will keep spinning until the team is entirely healthy.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

What to watch for when Cavs face RJ Barrett, Raptors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-gets-100-real-scottie-barnes-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ RJ Barrett gets 100% real about Scottie Barnes’ return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Raptors-news-RJ-Barrett-gets-100-real-about-Scottie-Barnes-return.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ RJ Barrett gets 100% real about Scottie Barnes’ return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-22T09:16:49-08:00">November 22nd, 9:16am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-22T10:42:05-08:00">November 22nd, 10:42am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Toronto Raptors forwards RJ Barrett (31 points) and Scottie Barnes led in a 110-105 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night. With another impressive performance, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-enters-vince-carter-territory-after-monster-game-vs-timberwolves">Barrett entered Raptors’ Vince Carter territory</a>. He also had Barnes, who finished with 17 points and six assists, back in the lineup. Toronto won its second win in three tries. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-scottie-barnes-injury-update-nikola-jokic-elbow">Barnes missed eleven games with an orbital fracture</a>; having him back made all the difference.</p><p>After the win, Barrett <a href="https://x.com/JLew1050/status/1859802257887461385" rel="noopener">discussed</a> having Barnes back into the fold, per TSN Sports’ Michael Grange.</p><p>“Scottie Barnes. Man, that was fun… He’s a special player.”</p><p>Barnes’ presence alone relieves some of Barrett’s defensive pressure, which he undoubtedly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3OSlaNNldc" rel="noopener">appreciated</a> after eleven games without it. It also alleviates pressure for RJ and the rest of his Raptor teammates as he explained.</p><p>“He made it easier for sure. I was just kind of out there chillin, waiting around, trying to find where I can make a play,” Barrett added. “But Scottie’s just, like I said, he’s a very special player, and when you have a guy like that out there, it makes everybody’s job easier.”</p><h2><b>RJ Barrett makes Raptors franchise history, joining Vince Carter</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Raptors-forward-RJ-Barrett.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Perhaps having <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-raptors-scottie-barnes-cleared-practice-injury-timeline-uncertainty">Scottie Barnes back from injury made a difference</a> for Raptors forward RJ Barrett, but he’s been on a tear lately and made franchise history. Barrett joined Vince Carter (2000-01), Chris Bosh (2008-09), DeMar DeRozan (2016-17), and Pascal Siakam (2019-20) in the franchise history books. He became just <a href="https://x.com/SNstats/status/1859798180508074174" rel="noopener">the fifth player</a> in Raptors franchise history to tally five or more 30+ point performances through the first 13 games of the regular season, according to Sportsnet Stats’ X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>It was great for Barnes to be back on the floor and rejoin his teammates after missing the past three weeks.</p><p>“These guys play hard. They’ve been playing really hard, locking into the game plan. So, we’re just doing the right things every single day,” Barnes said. “Out there, we put in the hard effort. We work together collectively to try to get this dub. Our bench did great.”</p><p>Barnes finished with 17 points on 5-of-11 attempts, 2-of-5 from deep, six assists, three rebounds, and one steal. He and Barrett led four Raptors who scored in double figures, including Jacob Poeltl, who supplied a double-double performance (15 points, 12 rebounds). Chris Boucher, who led the second unit, scored 22 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block.</p><p>Barrett, Barnes, and the rest of the Raptors’ next game is against the Cavaliers on Sunday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ RJ Barrett gets 100% real about Scottie Barnes’ return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-enters-vince-carter-territory-after-monster-game-vs-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ RJ Barrett enters Vince Carter territory after monster game vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RJ-Barrett-enters-Vince-Carter-territory-after-monster-game-vs-Timberwolves.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ RJ Barrett enters Vince Carter territory after monster game vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-21T21:05:07-08:00">November 21st, 9:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-21T21:34:53-08:00">November 21st, 9:34pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors have experienced injury woes of their own to begin the 2024-25 season; most notably, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-is-scottie-barnes-playing-vs-timberwolves-latest-injury-update">have missed plenty of games</a>. In turn, RJ Barrett has been thrust into a larger role — and he has been delivering monster stat lines on a regular basis. On Thursday night, Barrett put up 31 points on an excellent 10-14 shooting from the field to lead the way for the Raptors in a huge 110-105 win over the Timberwolves.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-darko-rajakovic-rj-barrett-demand-loss-lakers">Raptors have asked Barrett</a> to take on a larger, do-it-all role and he is proving capable of shouldering the heavy burden. It’s not an easy thing to put up an efficient 30-spot against a Timberwolves squad with plenty of good defenders, but Barrett managed to do so, and in so doing, he’s slowly establishing himself as one of the most explosive scorers in franchise history.</p><p>According to Sportsnet Stats on X (formerly known as Twitter), Barrett <a href="https://x.com/SNstats/status/1859798180508074174" rel="noopener">became just the fifth player</a> in Raptors franchise history to tally five or more 30-point games through the first 13 games played in the season. He joined four of the greatest players in franchise history, with Vince Carter (2000-01), Chris Bosh (2008-09), DeMar DeRozan (2016-17), and Pascal Siakam (2019-20) also accomplishing the feat.</p><p>It’s a testament to how strong of a start Barrett is having to his first full season with the Raptors that he already finds himself among some of the most decorated players to ever suit up for the team. And even with Barnes returning from injury, Barrett appears to be seizing the controls of the team’s offense — which could lead to plenty of huge scoring nights moving forward.</p><p>Barrett has been in the league for six years that it’s easy to forget that he’s only 24 years old, and the Raptors definitely have a quality piece to build around as they look to return to contending ways in the immediate future.</p><h2>RJ Barrett is on a hot streak for the Raptors</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Raptors-forward-RJ-Barrett-9-drives-to-the-basket.jpg"></figure><p>One of the major problems that RJ Barrett encountered when he was with the New York Knicks was that he was an inefficient volume scorer. But with the Raptors, Barrett appears to be figuring it out, especially as of late.</p><p>Over his past two games, Barrett is averaging 35 points on on 65.7 percent shooting from the field while leading the Raptors to two victories against two teams that made the playoffs last year (Indiana Pacers and Timberwolves). And perhaps the return of Scottie Barnes allows him to be more efficient on a game-to-game basis, as he won’t be drawing as much defensive attention anymore.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ RJ Barrett enters Vince Carter territory after monster game vs. Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-shares-game-of-thrones-moment-with-jaime-lannister-actor-at-lakers-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors news: RJ Barrett shares ‘Game of Thrones’ moment with Jaime Lannister actor at Lakers game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Raptors-news-RJ-Barrett-shares-Game-of-Thrones-moment-with-Jaime-Lannister-actor-at-Lakers-game.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors news: RJ Barrett shares ‘Game of Thrones’ moment with Jaime Lannister actor at Lakers game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-12T08:00:54-08:00">November 12th, 8:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-12T08:00:54-08:00">November 12th, 8:00am</time><address><a href="http://designsux.com">Burtland Dixon</a>As an avid enthusiast of entertainment, Burtland Dixon is a passionate individual who revels in the magic of movies, sports, music, and pop culture. Whether it's catching the latest blockbuster, watching the marquee matchup of the week, attending live concerts, or getting immersed in the world of gaming, Burtland finds joy in all forms of entertainment.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Entertainment</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Sunday night in Los Angeles saw a star-studded clash between the Toronto Raptors and the L.A. Lakers, but it wasn’t just the basketball action that stole the show. Raptors star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-darko-rajakovic-rj-barrett-demand-loss-lakers">RJ Barrett</a>, fresh off an impressive season start, took a moment to celebrate with the crowd after a successful three-point play. His spontaneous reaction quickly turned into an unforgettable encounter when he realized he was <a href="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/rj-barrett-jamie-lannister-courtside-reaction-lakers-raptors-game-of-thrones/" rel="noopener">directing his enthusiasm towards Nikolaj Coster-Waldau</a>, the actor famous for portraying Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones, Uproxx reports. Coster-Waldau’s attendance in the crowd added a Hollywood sparkle to the game, a reminder that Lakers games are known for celebrity sightings. Surprised, Barrett did a double-take, his excitement barely contained as he mouthed “Game of Thrones?” at the actor, clearly taken aback by the chance to share the moment with a TV legend.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCPLHaROCJL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading"><div style="padding: 16px;"><p> </p><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p> </p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCPLHaROCJL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" rel="noopener" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Dime (@dimemagazine)</a></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Barrett’s reaction reflects a relatable, human side of pro athletes—showing that even NBA stars can feel a thrill when face-to-face with celebrities they admire. With regulars like Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington frequently present at Lakers games, the courtside seats in Los Angeles often transform into a who’s-who of Hollywood. Yet Coster-Waldau, who’s not as constant a courtside fixture, likely wasn’t expecting such an interaction from one of the game’s stars, adding to the excitement of the night.</p><h2>Barrett’s Transformation on the Court</h2><p>While Barrett’s celebrity encounter made for a fun moment, his performance on the court is generating serious buzz. The Raptors guard has been delivering eye-catching numbers, seemingly stepping into a larger role with grace and determination. Injuries to teammates Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley have thrust Barrett into the spotlight, and he’s responded by becoming a primary playmaker, demonstrating growth that feels both surprising and promising for Toronto fans. After a recent standout game, where he notched a career-high 12 assists, Barrett’s emerging skillset has him ranking among the NBA’s best in usage and assist rates. His awareness and decision-making on the court have taken a leap forward, making him a focal point for the Raptors’ future potential.</p><p>RJ Barrett’s development as a floor general marks a big shift from his prior role, where he operated more as a supporting scorer than a lead playmaker. This season, he’s routinely reading defenses with precision, running pick-and-rolls, and keeping his teammates involved at a rate that outpaces his earlier performances. His newfound passing abilities and high assist averages showcase a maturity that was previously missing from his game. If he can sustain this level of play even as Quickley and Barnes return, Barrett might just establish himself as an All-Star contender. In an otherwise challenging season for Toronto, his evolution provides a bright spot—one that could signal a seismic shift for the Raptors if he continues elevating his play.</p><p>Barrett’s encounter with Coster-Waldau might have been a playful distraction, but his growth on the court promises lasting impact for the Raptors, potentially positioning him as the player they’ve been waiting for.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors news: RJ Barrett shares ‘Game of Thrones’ moment with Jaime Lannister actor at Lakers game

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-darko-rajakovic-rj-barrett-demand-loss-lakers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic issues RJ Barrett demand after loss vs. Lakers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/0Darko-Rajakovic-issues-RJ-Barrett-demand-after-loss-vs.-Lakers0.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic issues RJ Barrett demand after loss vs. Lakers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-02T07:55:01-07:00">November 2nd, 7:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-02T15:08:00-07:00">November 2nd, 3:08pm</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors’ rally fell short Friday night in a 131-125 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but there were some positives to take away from the team’s fifth loss of the season, including a double-double by RJ Barrett, which was a step in the right direction according to<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-draws-major-darko-rajakovic-praise-blockbuster-trade-knicks"> Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic</a>.</p><p>After trailing by as many as 26 points, Barrett and second-year player Gradey Dick led the team back to within a few possessions in the narrow loss.</p><p>Barrett, in particular, had one of the best games of his career, as he recorded a season-high 33 points and career-high 12 assists. Barrett, the third-overall draft pick in 2019, had never reached double-digit assists in his six seasons in the NBA.</p><p>Following the loss, Rajakovic <a href="https://x.com/StarSports/status/1852540324502966358" rel="noopener">said he wants</a> Barrett to continue to focus on utilizing his playmaking ability.</p><p>“First of all, I think that RJ’s very capable; I think he needs to do even more,” Rajakovic said. “He needs to play-make for our team and create offense for our team. And we need more from him on the defensive end as well.</p><p>“I’m talking to RJ every day; I’m a big RJ believer. I believe in him, and I’m every single day calling him for more. And he tonight did a really good job moving the ball.”</p><h2><b>Raptors’ RJ Barrett off to hot start for the 2024-25 NBA season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Raptors-RJ-Barrett.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Although we are still very, very early in the season, it appears as though Barrett has approached his first full season with the Raptors differently. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-reveals-immediate-reaction-trade-knicks-toronto">Traded midseason by the New York Knicks</a> to his hometown Raptors, Barrett increased his scoring output and efficiency after the trade last season, and a few games into this season, his numbers have increased again.</p><p>In his 32 games as a Raptor last season, Barrett averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on shooting splits of .553 FG / .392 3P / .629 FT. Three games into this season — Barrett missed the first three games of the year <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-worrisome-injury-update-before-season">due to a shoulder injury</a> — he is averaging 28.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists on shooting splits of .541 FG / .529 3P / .643 FT.</p><p>Of course, his three-point shooting is unsustainable, but even with regression to his career 35% three-point shooting, he is setting himself up nicely for a strong season.</p><p>A college teammate of No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, Barrett was drafted by the Knicks in 2019 with the hope he would become the superstar New York had been waiting for. However, Barrett never rose to All-Star or All-NBA status despite averaging 18 points per game as the team rebuilt.</p><p>Around the beginning of the calendar year, the Knicks traded Barrett along with Immanuel Quickley in order to acquire OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa. And now, Barrett finds himself back in a rebuilding situation, as Toronto, which went 25-57 a year ago, is again expected to be one of the NBA’s worst teams, especially after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-scottie-barnes-injury-update-nikola-jokic-elbow">recent injury to Scottie Barnes</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic issues RJ Barrett demand after loss vs. Lakers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-worrisome-injury-update-before-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ RJ Barrett dealt worrisome injury update before start of season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Raptors-news-RJ-Barrett-dealt-worrisome-injury-update-before-start-of-season.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ RJ Barrett dealt worrisome injury update before start of season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-08T10:27:28-07:00">October 8th, 10:27am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-08T10:44:42-07:00">October 8th, 10:44am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Toronto Raptors swingman RJ Barrett sustained a <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1843703046850916552" rel="noopener">sprain to the right acromioclavicular joint</a> late in the second quarter of the team’s preseason game against the Washington Wizards on Sunday and will miss the remainder of the preseason, the team announced on Tuesday.</p><p>Barrett, 24, was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-og-anunoby-rj-barrett-immanuel-quickley-knicks-raptors-trade">traded from the New York Knicks to the Raptors last season</a> in a deal involving OG Anunoby before the trade deadline. The Toronto native played in 32 games for the Raptors, averaging 21.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent from three-point range.</p><p>There is hope internally that Barrett can be this franchise’s next All-Star talent on the wing. Unfortunately, he may miss the start of the 2024-25 season with this AC joint injury.</p><p>At this time, the Raptors have not given a firm timeframe for Barrett’s latest injury other than the fact that he will miss the remainder of the preseason. Based on previous data regarding AC joint injuries to NBA players, the minimum time for recovery is normally at least two weeks. Then again, some players with more severe sprains have missed six to eight weeks.</p><p>The extent of Barrett’s injury has not been revealed, and the Raptors say further updates on the rising star’s status will be given as appropriate.</p><h2><b>RJ Barrett’s injury adds questions to Raptors future</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RJ_Barrett_throws_it_down.jpg"><figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Raptors finished the 2023-24 season with a 25-57 record. This was the franchise’s worst record since winning only 23 games during the 2011-12 season.</p><p>Since winning their only championship with Kawhi Leonard in 2019, the Raptors have not found a whole lot of success. Scottie Barnes has been a bright spot as a rising star in the Eastern Conference, yet the team as a whole is clearly rebuilding. This is a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-masai-ujiri-makes-rebuilding-admission-2024-25-season">notion that Masai Ujiri discussed at length</a> at the start of training camp.</p><p>“I would use the word rebuilding, that’s the right word, I think we have a clear path now going forward,” Ujiri stated. “Young team, growing team, I think we set a path, went into the draft last year, got a couple of young players, and wanting to continue to grow and build this team around Scottie who is just 23 years old, so just want to continue to grow as a team. In sports you always want to be competitive and you play to win, but it is a rebuilding team, I think everybody sees that.”</p><p>Aside from Barnes, who the organization gave a five-year, $225 million extension to this summer, the Raptors also have Immanuel Quickley at the point guard position. Quickley, who came over in the same trade as Barrett last season, earned himself a five-year, $175 million contract this offseason.</p><p>Now that Quickley and Barnes are under contract as long-term building blocks in Toronto, the next line of questions points in Barrett’s direction. While he still has three years left on his current contract, including the 2024-25 season, Barrett has yet to fully take that next step in his career.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-masai-ujiri-rj-barretts-potential-shade-knicks">Barrett is a terrific player and has shown flashes of his brilliance</a> on the court. Ultimately, he just still needs time in order to fully embrace playing next to Barnes and Quickley in Toronto. Should he be forced to miss time at the start of the season due to this new shoulder injury, then the growth of both Barrett and the Raptors will be put on hold for the time being.</p><p>Further updates on Barrett and his recovery from this new injury will be given closer to the start of the regular season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ RJ Barrett dealt worrisome injury update before start of season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-eye-opening-admission-scottie-barnes-leadership');   ga('set', 'title', 'RJ Barrett’s eye-opening admission on Scottie Barnes leadership');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Raptors-news-RJ-Barretts-eye-opening-admission-on-Scottie-Barnes-leadership.jpg"></figure><h1>RJ Barrett’s eye-opening admission on Scottie Barnes leadership</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-05T16:24:07-07:00">October 5th, 4:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-05T16:24:07-07:00">October 5th, 4:24pm</time><address><a>Matt De Lima</a>Matt De Lima is an Associate Editor for NFL and college football at ClutchPoints. He has been covering sports for over 12 years at sites like Sports Illustrated, The Game Day, and countless others. Born and raised in California, he is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a diehard Hokies fan who now resides in southern Maryland.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Now entering his fourth NBA season, Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes is looking to improve on the team’s 12th-place finish in the Eastern Conference last year. The 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year got a taste of the playoffs in his first season but has not returned. RJ Barrett, who came to Toronto via midseason trade from the New York Knicks, fully recognizes Barnes’ caliber, per TSN’s Kayla Grey.</p><p>“He’s probably the most unselfish superstar [I’ve probably ever seen]… It’s great. It just kinda sets the tone for everybody else.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"He's probably the most unselfish superstar [I've probably ever seen]… It's great. It just kinda sets the tone for everybody else."</p><p>RJ Barrett on Scottie Barnes' growth as a leader 🙌</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/theshift_sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theshift_sports</a>)<a href="https://t.co/g7tEAgIFKb">pic.twitter.com/g7tEAgIFKb</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1842677178116251715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>However, during the Raptors’ media day, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-fans-torn-after-jakob-poeltl-surprise-tanking-admission" rel="noopener">Jakob Poeltl admitted the team would probably be tanking</a> and <a href="https://x.com/ogchabzo/status/1840784094273405335" rel="noopener">ruffled some feathers in the process</a>.</p><p>“I think we all know we’re not going to go and attack the championship this year,” Poetlt said. “It makes no sense for us to try to win every single game as much as we can and sacrifice development.”</p><p>With all the talk about the quality of prospects like <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bold-cooper-flagg-led-2025-draft-class-take-nba">Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey from the 2025 NBA Draft</a>, it’s possible many teams share this tanking sentiment.</p><h2><b>Expectations of Barnes, Barrett, Raptors in the 2024-25 season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Raptors-Scottie-Barnes-dunking-it.jpg"><figcaption>© Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Longtime team president Masai Ujiri acknowledged the Raptors are young and rebuilding, per SportsNet.</p><p>“I would use the word rebuilding, that’s the right word, I think we have a clear path now going forward,” Ujiri said. “Young team, growing team, I think we set a path, went into the draft last year, got a couple of young players, and wanting to continue to grow and build this team around Scottie who is just 23 years old, so just want to continue to grow as a team. In sports you always want to be competitive and you play to win, but it is a rebuilding team, I think everybody sees that.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I would use the word rebuilding."</p><p>Masai Ujiri on how he would describe the expectations for the Raptors this upcoming season. <a href="https://t.co/yi8miYQbhz">pic.twitter.com/yi8miYQbhz</a></p><p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1840752510132174875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>When asked about his role on the Raptors, Barnes seemed to understand the assignment, per Luca Rosano of Raptors Nation.</p><p>“Just trying to step into that next role of growing into that leader. You gotta just take steps and I feel like I’ve been taking the right steps this summer,” Barnes said. “I’m usually accustomed to being that leader by example. I go out there and play hard.”</p><p>The Raptors begin their preseason on Sunday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m. EST against the Washington Wizards.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

RJ Barrett’s eye-opening admission on Scottie Barnes leadership

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-rj-barrett-playing-status-update-76ers-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors guard RJ Barrett playing status update for 76ers game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/raptors-news-rj-barrett-playing-status-update-for-76ers-game.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors guard RJ Barrett playing status update for 76ers game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-03-30T13:04:56-07:00">March 30th, 1:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-03-30T13:04:56-07:00">March 30th, 1:04pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Toronto Raptors (23-50) guard RJ Barrett has been out for nearly three weeks following the tragic death of his brother Nathan. The untimely tragedy interrupted another solid season for the Canadian veteran, as he’s second on the team with 19.5 points per game.</p><p>However, it looks like <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-breaks-silence-tragic-passing-brother">Barrett will return</a> to the court soon. The Duke alum has been getting his conditioning back up to speed after temporarily stepping away from basketball. He’s now <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-03-30_01PM.pdf" rel="noopener">been named questionable</a> to play Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers after missing the last eight contests, via the NBA injury report.</p><h2><b>How will this affect Barrett and the Raptors?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Raptors-RJ-Barrett.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Toronto has been floundering, as the squad is just 1-13 in the month of March. The Raptors have also lost 12 straight games, and have been eliminated from playoff contention. Therefore, the organization has nothing to play for for the nine remaining contests this season.</p><p>However, these games could be the most important of Barrett’s career, should he decide to play. Rather than spiralling down a bottomless hole of grief and pain, basketball could help<a href="https://theathletic.com/5378050/2024/03/30/rj-barrett-brother-raptors-nba/" rel="noopener"> the 23-year-old cope</a>, via Eric Koreen of the Athletic.</p><p>“It helps me every day to be here and also just be on a schedule and just be around the guys. Hanging out with your teammates, it’s funny,” Barrett said on Saturday. “They’re funny. You get to hang out with them, you get to go practice and even support the guys when I’m not playing. Whatever it is, just being around has been helping a lot.”</p><p>This gives these upcoming games more meaning than normal for a losing team at this point in the season. It’s bigger than basketball, and with Barrett already being in his native country of Canada, the Raptors’ locker room might be the exact sanctuary that he needs.</p><p>Barrett also mentioned that his brother would want him to continue to play and enjoy his life.</p><p>“I’ve had some people in my life pass, but I think this one hit a little harder for me. Yeah, this one is definitely a little different, so it’s a lot tougher,” Barrett continued. “I just think that I’ve gotta push forward every day, gotta be able to try to figure it out. Because, also, if I know my brother, he would want me to be here, to be playing, to try to continue to make the Barrett legacy grow.”</p><p>While their locker room chemistry hasn’t translated to wins this year, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-torontos-touching-gesture-after-heartbreaking-passing-of-rj-barretts-younger-brother">Raptors clearly know</a> how to emotionally supports their players. That was evidenced by the team’s pre-game moment of silence in their home tilt against the Orlando Magic on March 15th. The entire organization was also present for Nathan’s funeral.</p><p>“I did not have a chance to meet Nathan prior, but just hearing all the stories about him, after leaving the funeral, I felt that I knew that he was an amazing young man,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković said. “Amazing family, very tight, very supportive of each other. Just a great example for a lot of us just how we need to treat family members and how close we need to be.”</p><p>Going forward, this tragic event might help Toronto stay tight-knit. With fellow guard Immanuel Quickley and small forward Scottie Barnes, the Raptors have decent building blocks to compliment Barrett beyond this season. With the new-look roster establishing such a family-oriented type of culture, this will only help them improve as a unit long-term.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
21.9	6.5	5.6	0.3	0.9

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
21.9	6.5	5.6	0.3	0.9

RJ Barrett news

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