US reporter: The Raptors have not yet begun contract extension negotiations with Barrett.

According to Sportsnet reporter Michael Grange on Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors have not yet begun substantive negotiations with R.J. Barrett regarding a contract extension.

The 26-year-old Barrett plays as a swingman and was selected third overall by the New York Knicks in 2019. He spent the first four and a half years of his professional career with the Knicks, playing a total of 297 regular season games, averaging 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33.2 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 42.2% and a three-point percentage of 34.2%.

In December 2023, Barrett was traded from the Knicks to the Raptors in a blockbuster trade involving OG Anunoby. To date, he has played 147 regular season games for the Raptors, averaging 20.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 31.7 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 49.5% and a three-point percentage of 35.3%.

Barrett is now in the final year of his contract and is expected to earn $29.6 million in the 2026/27 season. The Raptors could theoretically offer him a four-year, $185 million extension, but they are clearly in no hurry to make a decision.

Currently, the salary cap pressure facing the Raptors will be a major obstacle to reaching a contract extension agreement. With several players, including Emmanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and Kawhi Leonard, signing high-salary contracts, the Raptors have very limited salary cap space available for future roster adjustments.

Despite this, Barrett remains optimistic about his future: "Many times, players get overly frustrated about this. In any case, they will pay me a considerable salary this year, so I have to be grateful for that. I also have a great agent, so let him handle the contract issues. Let things take their course."

"Whether you get a contract or not, you have to keep playing. If you can't stay with the Raptors, there will always be other teams that need you. Once you step onto the court, you're always in an interview state, which is why you have to always show your best."

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