RJ Barrett

Raptors Rumors: Davis, Sabonis, Barrett, Ball, Richards, More

Discussing the potential Anthony Davis trade market during an appearance on the DLLS Mavs podcast (Twitter video link via Omer Osman), NBA insider Marc Stein suggested that of the three Eastern Conference teams linked to the Mavericks big man, the Raptors seem to have expressed the most real interest.

“Toronto has definitely registered interest,” Stein said. “That is for certain. The Hawks, I think, it is more exploratory. … And I think (the Pistons‘) interest has been vastly overstated.”

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype also used the word “exploratory” to describe Atlanta’s potential interest in Davis and suggested that Detroit doesn’t seem especially inclined to make a big in-season splash on the trade market.

However, that doesn’t mean the Raptors are on track to make a deal for the 10-time All-Star. Toronto has other possible targets on its radar, and the Mavericks aren’t committed to making a move involving Davis. As Scotto writes, Dallas is in the process of evaluating AD’s fit with Cooper Flagg, his health, and his impact on winning with the current Mavs roster.

Confirming a Jake Fischer report, Scotto says Domantas Sabonis is another player whom the Raptors have been intrigued by, adding that Toronto expressed exploratory interest in the Kings center over the summer.

While it doesn’t seem like the two teams are engaged in discussions regarding Sabonis at this time, Scotto points out that Sacramento general manager Scott Perry drafted RJ Barrett during his time in the Knicks’ front office and is still “fond” of him. In other words, if the Raptors do circle back to Sabonis at some point, Barrett would be a player to watch in those talks. Toronto has gauged the market on Barrett’s value, sources tell HoopsHype.

Here’s more on the Raptors:

  • Toronto checked in on the availability of Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball during the offseason, according to Scotto. There’s no indication those conversations went anywhere or that Charlotte is currently looking to move Ball, but Immanuel Quickley would be a logical outgoing piece in any Raptors deal for a higher-paid point guard.
  • The Raptors and Suns have engaged in exploratory discussions about the possibility of a deal that would send wing Ochai Agbaji and second-round draft compensation to Phoenix in exchange for center Nick Richards, Scotto reports. That sort of deal would allow Toronto to fortify its frontcourt while sneaking below the tax line and would allow the Suns to replenish their depleted draft assets a little. However, it would also push Phoenix further into tax territory and it’s unclear if Agbaji would appeal much to the Suns, who are more focused on a power forward upgrade, per Scotto.
  • Scotto spoke to Raptors forward Brandon Ingram about his transition to Toronto, playing with star forward Scottie Barnes, and a handful of other topics, including why he felt comfortable signing a three-year, $120MM extension with his new team before he had played a single game as a Raptor. “I told myself whoever wanted me, that I was going to be content in being there,” Ingram said. “Around the (2025) trade deadline, I heard two or three teams (had interest), and I picked the best choice where I knew I was going to get a fresh start.”

Raptors Notes: Giannis, AD, Trade Options, Barrett, Battle

The Raptors are one of only seven NBA teams that fully control all of their own future first-round picks, which is why they can’t be ruled out as a potential suitor for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, or any other star who comes available in the future, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic.

However, Koreen argues Toronto should avoid both Antetokounmpo and Davis because the Raptors still wouldn’t be good enough to contend for a title after the potential acquisition.

A deal for Antetokounmpo would likely start with the Bucks asking for Scottie Barnes and draft picks, Koreen writes, and while Barnes is probably unlikely to ever reach Antetokounmpo’s level as a perennial MVP candidate, he’s also nearly seven years younger, makes less money, and has a less extensive injury history. There’s also the significant question of whether Antetokounmpo or the Bucks would be open to the idea.

If Barnes isn’t involved, Koreen continues, the Raptors could try to offer a package of RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles and picks; ignoring whether the Bucks would accept such a trade, Toronto would be left without a true center, the team’s primary position of weakness, would have less depth, and fewer ways to improve the roster going forward.

Davis would certainly cost less to acquire from an asset standpoint, considering he’s older, less impactful, and has a longer injury history than Antetokounmpo, Koreen notes. But the trade would still require giving up two starters to make the money work, hurting the Raptors’ depth, and although Davis is obviously a major upgrade over Poeltl, he doesn’t like to play center and they share a couple of weaknesses (contract situations and injuries), Koreen observes.

Here’s more on the Raptors:

  • Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca covers similar ground, writing that Davis would probably make more sense to pursue from a cost-acquisition standpoint, but noting that there are logical reasons why a deal might not appeal to Toronto, Dallas or Davis. While it remains to be seen whether or not the Raptors will target a major move, they will certainly be active ahead of the February 5 deadline — they’re currently less than $1MM above the luxury tax line and will undoubtedly dip below that threshold in some fashion, per Grange.
  • As for potential trade targets, Grange suggests the Raptors try packaging some combination of Ochai Agbaji and other salaries to find a backup center who is also capable of filling in as a starter when Poeltl is unavailable, as Sandro Mamukelashvili is more of a “face-up power forward” than a true big man. The Raptors have expressed some interest in Davis’ teammate Daniel Gafford in the past, according to Grange, who says the “most enticing” hypothetical trade target might be Magic center Goga Bitadze. Grange lists five other big men the Raptors could consider as well.
  • Barrett, who has been sidelined since November 24 due to a right knee sprain, will return to basketball activities sometime this week, the Raptors announced on Monday (Twitter link via Grange). Barrett received a PRP injection to promote healing in his knee last week. The Toronto native is the team’s third-leading scorer.
  • Second-year sharpshooter Jamison Battle, who sprained his left ankle on Dec. 5 and missed the past two games, was active for Monday’s contest at Miami, tweets Zulfi Sheikh of Sportsnet. Battle is only averaging 8.1 minutes per game across 17 appearances, but he has been highly efficient offensively in a very small sample size; he is 12-for-15 on twos (80%) and 13-for-22 on threes (59.1%).

RJ Barrett Receives PRP Injection, Out At Least One More Week

Raptors wing RJ Barrett recently received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his sprained right knee, and while he’s making progress in his recovery, he will be out at least one more week, the team announced on Monday (Twitter link via Marc J. Spears of Andscape).

As Spears notes, Toronto hosts New York in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup on Tuesday, and the Raptors will be without Barrett, their third-leading scorer. Jamison Battle (left ankle sprain) is doubtful for Tuesday’s matchup, while key reserve Jamal Shead is questionable because of a right quad contusion.

The No. 3 overall pick of the 2019 draft, Barrett was off to a solid start to 2025/26 prior to sustaining the injury on November 23 vs. Brooklyn. Through 17 games, the 25-year-old guard/forward averaged 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 30.9 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .506/.356/.725.

It’s been an unusual season for Toronto, which won its first game, lost four in a row, won four straight, lost another, reeled off nine consecutive victories, and has now dropped five of its past six games. Despite the recent downturn, the Raptors are still 15-10, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, though only one game separates them from the No. 9 spot.

Barrett has missed the past eight games due to the knee sprain. The Raptors have gone 3-5 so far without the Toronto native available.

Second-year guard Ja’Kobe Walter has started each of the past five games for Toronto with Barrett sidelined, but has struggled mightily in the past two, going 0-for-9 from the floor in 37 combined minutes. The Raptors were minus-40 when the 21-year-old was on the court over that two-game span.

Atlantic Notes: Towns, MPJ, Thomas, Quickley, Barrett

Big man Karl-Anthony Towns recently made it very clear he hopes to keep playing for the Knicks for the foreseeable future, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

Hell yeah, hell yeah. I want to stay here,” Towns said. “Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”

As Bondy writes, Towns was eligible for a two-year extension before the season began, but there was “no traction” on a new deal. The five-time All-Star is under contract through at least 2026/27, with a $61MM player option for ’27/28, so there wasn’t much urgency to extend Towns from New York’s perspective.

That may change next summer, however, since Towns will again be extension-eligible and could be a free agent in 2027 if he declines that option. The 30-year-old forward/center says he has a strong relationship with the team’s front office, Bondy adds.

Me, (team president Leon Rose) and (Senior VP of basketball operations Gersson Rosas) and everyone, we’re great,” Towns said. “I’ll go have lunch with them right now. We’re good.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

  • After missing two games with lower back tightness, Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. returned to action on Monday and produced one of his best games of the season, finishing with 35 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 36 minutes during the victory over Charlotte, notes C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. As Lucas Kaplan of NetDaily.com writes, Porter has thrived in head coach Jordi Fernandez‘s offensive system, putting up career-best statistics as Brooklyn’s top scoring option. “Well, I think Jordi — he’s a genius of a coach,” Porter said. “You know, we’re a young team, we’re going to keep growing, but he’s a genius in terms of the schemes that he puts out, especially offensively for me. The way teams are guarding me, really just face-guarding me and trying not to let me catch the ball, the different creative ways that Jordi has our team running plays to help me get touches and get looks off is really next level. He’s making it so easy for me to play my game. So I really have to thank just Jordi and the offensive coaching staff for how I’ve been able to produce.”
  • Nets guard Cam Thomas, who is three-plus weeks removed from straining his left hamstring, will undergo an MRI in the next few days to determine how the injury is healing, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post relays. “He’s getting an MRI at the end of the week, and then when we get the reads [on it], then we’ll give you guys an update. We’ll let you know when that happens,” Fernandez said. Thomas was limited to just 25 games last season after straining the same hamstring multiple times.
  • Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have improved multiple aspects of their games since they were traded from the Knicks to the Raptors nearly two years ago, writes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. Both players have gotten stronger and are in better shape, and Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic also pointed to specific basketball improvements. “Immanuel improved his defense on the ball dramatically. He’s one of the best defensive players that we have now on the ball. Also very disruptive with his hands,” Rajakovic said. “RJ’s shot selection is a little bit different. He’s getting much more to the rim, he’s doing catch-and-shoot 3s, he’s scoring more off cuts. Those two guys — they’re investing a lot in their individual and personal development and that’s affecting our whole team.”
  • Barrett, who is currently out with a knee sprain, still isn’t doing on-court work yet but his knee is getting better and the Raptors forward is considered day-to-day, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.

Raptors’ RJ Barrett Ruled Out For One Week

Raptors forward RJ Barrett, who injured his right knee during Sunday’s win over Brooklyn, underwent medical imaging that revealed no structural damage, the team confirmed today in a press release.

However, Barrett has been diagnosed with a sprain and will remain on the shelf for a few more games after sitting out on Monday vs. Cleveland. According to the Raptors, Barrett will be reevaluated in seven days, which suggests he’ll miss upcoming matchups with Indiana (Wednesday), Charlotte (Saturday), New York (Sunday), and Portland (next Tuesday).

Barrett sustained the injury in the third quarter on Sunday. He stole an inbounds pass and raced down the court for a two-handed breakaway dunk, but grimaced when he landed and checked out of the game shortly thereafter (video link via NBA.com).

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said on Monday that imaging on the injury looked “promising” and that Barrett would be considered day-to-day going forward, but it sounds like the team has decided to take a cautious approach with the 25-year-old’s recovery.

With or without Barrett, the Raptors have been one of the NBA’s hottest teams as of late. Their victory over Cleveland on Monday was their eighth in a row, improving their record on the season to 13-5, which is the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference. While Toronto has outscored opponents during Barrett’s minutes, the club has been even better when he’s on the bench — the Raptors have a +12.9 net rating in 338 minutes without Barrett on the floor this fall.

Second-year wing Ja’Kobe Walter took Barrett’s spot in the starting lineup on Monday and is the top candidate for increased playing time during the next week. Walter’s 24 minutes against the Cavaliers represented a season high.

Injury Notes: Warriors, Davis, Barrett, Sixers, Collins, Pacers

The Warriors will be without three important frontcourt players on Monday against Utah. In addition to center Al Horford, who will miss at least a week due to right sciatic nerve irritation, and forward Jonathan Kuminga, who has been unavailable since November 12 due to bilateral knee tendonitis, Draymond Green has been ruled out for Monday’s game due to a right foot sprain, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.

Green was listed as questionable before being downgraded to out, which may be a sign that his injury isn’t considered significant. Of course, Kuminga’s knee soreness also wasn’t intially viewed as a cause for much concern, but he’ll miss a sixth straight contest on Monday and his return isn’t necessarily imminent.

The Warriors had hoped he’d be able to practice on Sunday, but that didn’t happen, according to Slater, who adds that imaging on Kuminga’s knees came back clean, showing no structural damage.

“He said he’s not moving that well, so I can’t tell you what the outlook is,” head coach Steve Kerr said on Sunday. “He needs to feel better and be able to move better before we can put him out there.”

We have several more injury updates from around the NBA:

  • Mavericks big man Anthony Davis will miss a 14th consecutive game due to a left calf strain on Monday, but head coach Jason Kidd said the plan is for Davis to take part in practice on Wednesday, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. Assuming Davis practices without a setback, his return shouldn’t be far off, Afseth notes.
  • The imaging results on RJ Barrett‘s sprained right knee “look promising,” according to Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic (Twitter link via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca). Barrett is out for Monday’s game vs. Cleveland but seems to have avoided a serious injury and is being considered day-to-day.
  • Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness) will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday vs. Orlando, but center Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) has been upgraded to questionable, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.
  • The Bulls are hopeful that Zach Collins (left wrist surgery) will be able to practice with contact this week, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link), who says Collins has a chance to return during the team’s post-Thanksgiving road trip that begins on Friday and runs through next Monday.
  • Pacers guards Johnny Furphy (left ankle sprain) and Quenton Jackson (right hamstring strain) could be back in action within the next couple weeks, head coach Rick Carlisle said today (Twitter links via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). Carlisle added that rookie Kam Jones has recovered from his back injury, but is still in the ramp-up process and could play for the Noblesville Boom in the G League before making his NBA debut.

Injury Notes: Shannon, Shamet, Barrett, Bulls

Terrence Shannon Jr. has been cleared for full-contact, five-on-five practice, the Timberwolves announced in a press release. He is being listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Kings.

Shannon has missed the last nine games for the Wolves with a left foot fifth metatarsal bone bruise. After playing 339 regular season minutes in his rookie season, he saw his playing time increase following the departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but has struggled to increase his production in the early going, averaging 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game through the team’s first seven contests.

In Shannon’s absence, Minnesota has turned to Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland, and Leonard Miller, among others. The Wolves are 10-6 on the season and have gone 8-3 in their last 11 games.

We have more injury notes from around the league:

  • Landry Shamet exited the Knicks‘ loss to the Magic in the first quarter and is now listed as out for Monday’s game against the Nets with a sprained right shoulder, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Bondy notes that head coach Mike Brown stated Landry would have a full evaluation in “the coming days,” and that this designation is only tied to the next game’s status. Shamet has been a productive role player for the Knicks this season, starting six games and averaging 9.3 PPG on 42.4% shooting from deep.
  • RJ Barrett exited the Raptors‘ win against the Nets on Sunday early with a right knee sprain after landing awkwardly on a dunk, reports Danielle Michaud, as relayed by Blake Murphy of Sportsnet (Twitter link). According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet (via Twitter), Barrett will get imaging done on his knee on Monday.
  • Isaac Okoro and Dalen Terry are listed as out for the Bulls‘ game against the Pelicans on Monday, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link). Kevin Huerter and Patrick Williams are listed as questionable with an illness and wrist injury, respectively.

Raptors Advance To NBA Cup Quarterfinals

The red-hot Raptors became the first team to advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals after beating the lowly Wizards by 30 points on Friday, the league announced (via Twitter). Toronto has now won six straight games and is currently 11-5, while Washington holds the worst record in the NBA at 1-14.

As Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes, the Raptors secured the No. 1 seed in East Group A with their win and Cleveland’s victory over Indiana. Toronto previously defeated the Cavaliers and Hawks in group play and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over both of those clubs.

The Raptors set a franchise record in the third quarter by scoring 48 points, Koreen notes, blowing the game open in the process. Brandon Ingram (24 points, eight rebounds, six assists), RJ Barrett (24 points, eight rebounds, four assists), Scottie Barnes (23 points, five rebounds, three steals), Sandro Mamukelashvili (23 points, seven rebounds in 21 minutes) and Immanuel Quickley (17 points, seven assists, zero turnovers) all had productive outings for Toronto.

I think there’s a lot more to come … I’m getting comfortable being me,” said big man Mamukelashvili, a free agent addition over the summer (Twitter link via Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca).

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said the Raptors “have a mission and desire” to host a quarterfinal game with an opportunity to advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas, tweets Grange, and the team is in strong position to do so given its point differential (+53) and 3-0 record. Its last matchup of the group stage is against Indiana next Wednesday.

According to Grange (Twitter link), 13 of the 16 teams that advanced to the knockout stage over the past two years went on to make the playoffs, and the other three were at least involved in the play-in tournament. That could bode well for the Raptors, who haven’t made the postseason since 2021/22.

Raptors Notes: Ingram, Barrett, Murray-Boyles

Former All-Star forward Brandon Ingram has become something of an afterthought around the league after battling a variety of injuries in recent years. He was limited to just 18 games last season, largely due to a severe ankle sprain, and didn’t play at all for the Raptors in 2024/25 after being acquired from New Orleans in a February trade.

There was a time when I did not necessarily lose love for the game, but I just had a lot of uncertainty,” Ingram told Eric Koreen of The Athletic. “Going on two months, three months with the ankle. ‘When am I gonna be healthy again?’ That dawned on me a little bit. … I was like, ‘Damn, I don’t know when I’m going to be back to my normal self.’

Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca also takes an in-depth look at Ingram, writing that the 28-year-old decided to make several changes this offseason to try and be more available in 2025/26. Despite publicly coming across as nonchalant at times, Ingram is known for being a focused and relentless worker behind the scenes.

I think most of my injuries have come from overworking,” Ingram said. “I don’t know how to stay out of the gym. Every day, I want to do a two-a-day. So, it’s about knowing when to rest, when to be out on the floor, when to go hard, when certain days are mental days. It’s all about that … I’m just trying to do everything I can do that’s in my control.”

According to both Koreen and Grange, Ingram has established himself as a leader on a young Raptors team, both on and off the court. The former No. 2 overall pick says he’s not trying to prove any of his doubters wrong, but rather prove himself right.

I know my own vision for where I want to be and that’s at the top of the league,” Ingram said, per Grange. “I keep that in my mind. You work for it and you wait for it to show up. Eventually things are going to take a turn, and it’s going to be the most beautiful thing ever.”

Here’s more from Toronto:

  • While turnovers (4.5 per contest) have been an issue, Ingram has otherwise gotten off to a solid start with the Raptors, averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal on .472/.333/.800 shooting through two games (32.0 MPG). “What I was most impressed with was how poised we were on the offensive end,” Ingram told Koreen after Wednesday’s season-opening win in Atlanta. “When the game slowed down and we had to go into our execution, everybody was poised and we just got the best shot.”
  • Guard/forward RJ Barrett was eligible for a contract extension before the season began, but his agents didn’t have serious discussions with the team about a potential new deal, according to Grange, who says the Raptors want to get a better idea of how Barrett fits alongside Ingram and Scottie Barnes before deciding what to do with him going forward. “Realistically, those things don’t really happen until the end of the season anyway,” Barrett said about extension talks. “I’m not really thinking about it. OK, I lied, I’m thinking about it. But more so I’m trying to focus on winning and making an impact here. When you do that, that’s how the rest gets taken care of.”
  • Lottery pick Collin Murray-Boyles is inching closer to making his regular season debut. He’s considered day-to-day with a right forearm strain, Grange writes, and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest in Dallas. No other Raptor appears on the injury report.

Raptors Notes: Murray-Boyles, Boucher, Barrett, Hepburn, More

Alongside Brandon Ingram, who has looked “healthy and free of rust” while averaging nearly a point per minute, No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles has been one of the early standouts for the Raptors during preseason, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic.

As Koreen details, Murray-Boyles has displayed an intriguing blend of defensive versatility and court vision, and has also been ready — and willing — to shoot open three-pointers, which will be important part of his development going forward.

We did make a couple of tweaks on his shooting mechanics,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said of Murray-Boyles’ outside shot. “He’s put a lot of work in. I’m encouraging him to take those shots. And he feels that he’s very comfortable actually in games. He looks like a player that’s looking for those shots and not shying away.”

Unfortunately, the 6’7″ forward sustained a right elbow contusion in the first quarter of Friday’s loss to Boston, limiting him to just eight minutes of action. Rajakovic told reporters that X-rays on the elbow were negative (Twitter link via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca), but Murray-Boyles was in “visible pain” in the locker room, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, who reports that the 20-year-old will likely undergo an MRI.

I don’t know what happened, but when the adrenaline wore off, it really hurt,” Murray-Boyles told Grange.

Here’s more on the Raptors:

  • After spending the past seven seasons with the Raptors, veteran big man Chris Boucher signed with Boston in free agency. He had a big game on Friday against his former club, recording 19 points (on 7-of-10 shooting) and nine rebounds in 23 minutes. In an interesting story for The Players’ Tribune, the 32-year-old forward/center discussed his journey from being an unhoused teenager in Montreal to having a long NBA career. Boucher had nothing but good things to say about the Raptors and Canadians in general.
  • According to Grange, while Toronto explored trades involving RJ Barrett this summer, the team didn’t find much of a market for the former No. 3 overall pick. Barrett, a Toronto native, will earn $27.7MM this season and $29.6MM in 2026/27 before hitting unrestricted free agency.
  • With all five starters resting on Friday, undrafted rookie Chucky Hepburn had a solid outing, recording 13 points, eight assists and four steals in 27 minutes, Grange notes. The 22-year-old guard is on a two-way contract with the Raptors.
  • Both Koreen and Grange suggest the Raptors may opt to carry 14 players on standard contracts to open the season. According to Grange, A.J. Lawson has supporters in the organization, but he’s signed to a non-guaranteed contract, and the Raptors already have a surplus of “skinnier swingmen,” as Koreen writes.
  • For his part, Lawson said he’s focused on the present. “You just got to be yourself,” Lawson said, per Grange. “Don’t worry about all the other factors that could possibly happen. Just do what you can do, control what you can control, and for me, play hard every time I’m out there, show I can defend at a high level, show I can create and knock down the shot. If I keep doing that, I feel like I’ll be okay. I just can’t focus on the things that are out of my control.”