The easy part of what should be a busy Toronto Raptors off-season has been taken care of.
Regardless, it’s the richest contract in Raptors history for the face of the franchise.
Barnes, 22, is coming off his first all-star selection and a season where he averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game before being shut down due to injury at the start of March.
Barnes previously joined Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter as Raptors to be named NBA rookie of the year. He was the fourth pick of the 2021 draft.
Toronto was unwilling to pay Pascal Siakam, the team’s former top player, the close to $200 million Indiana gave him over four years, which is why an impasse occurred and the Raptors dealt Siakam to the Pacers for an underwhelming return n January.
Siakam went on to star for the Pacers in a long playoff run, as he had in the past for Toronto. Now, the team is betting Barnes will follow suit. The Raptors have missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.
But there is plenty more work to be done. The Barnes extension can become official on July 6, the official start of free agency.
Before that, Toronto holds the 19th pick of Round 1 of the NBA draft, which begins on Wednesday night, and the first pick of the second round, 31st overall, which will take place on Thursday afternoon.
Toronto must decide by June 28 whether to exercise the $23-million team option on Bruce Brown’s contract. Brown’s flexible contract was part of the Siakam trade. Brown could have his option picked up so he could play for the Raptors in 2024-25 (and possibly be dealt at the trade deadline), it could be declined, potentially opening up cap space, or it could be picked up with Brown then dealt for a player on a longer contract, perhaps with other assets like draft picks attached.
Toronto also has time to potentially reach a contract extension with Gary Trent Jr., who is set to become a free agent. The team also owns Trent’s Bird Rights, meaning a return could happen later if he can’t find a deal elsewhere.
Malik Monk, a better player than Trent, just signed a four-year, $78-million deal which was widely seen as on the low side.
The team also will give starting point guard Immanuel Quickley a qualifying offer this week, making him a restricted free agent and will attempt to work out a long-term deal with him this summer.