After missing the past 15 games due to a right knee sprain, Raptors wing RJ Barrett will return to action on Sunday against Golden State, tweets Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca. Barrett will be on an unspecified minutes restriction in his first game back since November 23, Murphy adds.
As Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca observes (via Twitter), the Raptors were 12-5 with Barrett in the lineup but have gone just 6-9 without him. They have worst offensive rating in the NBA over that 15-game span.
Barrett, 25, averaged 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists on .506/.356/.725 shooting in his first 17 games of the season. On Friday, the Raptors provided an encouraging update on the former No. 3 overall pick, who was initially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Toronto is expected to announce an injury update on Jakob Poeltl on Monday, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link). The Raptors’ starting center will miss his third straight game Sunday due to a lower back issue the team has recently called a strain. He has been dealing with back problems since training camp.
In a full story for Sportsnet, Murphy discusses his takeaways from Friday’s disappointing 21-point loss to Washington, which has the second-worst record in the league at 6-23. While some of Toronto’s young players have made individual progress this season, others have taken a step back, and the team’s ability to put pressure on the rim has been sorely lacking with Barrett out, Murphy writes.
Finally. Only he , Ingram, Mamu and Shead have dog in them.
Seen so many rumours saying they want to trade RJ and I don’t get it. 20-5-4 shooting over 50% from the field.
Pacers should offer Mathurin and Toppin.
Hali RJ Nesmith Siakim …
Nembhart Walker Huff
Need a centre but can sort that in FA or draft.
Exactly. I’d trade Scottie, Quickley, Poetl. Not RJ.
Yeah I don’t understand why they have this love for Poeltl who’s been crap this season and now injured. Quickly was an overpay and in fairness has been alright but not worth the big price tag.
Scottie has so much potential but idk not the biggest fan and then drafting CMB to me made no sense with so many forwards already.
I mean they also have a good spot in the standings so I doubt they do anything drastic with Scottie, Poeltl won’t be moved if injured and Quickly won’t be moved cause they don’t really have a back up at point. Having extended Ingram it won’t be him so it really leaves RJ as the most likely but doesn’t make sense nonetheless.
I always thought the Canadian connection was cool and if anything should’ve tried going for Nembhrart at point another Canadian but he’s so solid and plays the right way
Correct. Poetl, Quickley can land them Sabonis or Markkanen with Gradey(3 firsts to get Markkanen included and 1 first for Sabonis).