Raptors GM Addresses RJ Barrett's Future After Kawhi Leonard Deal

The Toronto Raptors locked up forward Kawhi Leonard this week, and that raised an obvious question about forward RJ Barrett, who is heading into the last year of his contract.

General manager Bobby Webster was asked about it at his press conference on Thursday, and he said Leonard's new deal will not get in the way of a new deal for Barrett because ownership has been behind the team.

Leonard and the Raptors agreed on Tuesday to a two-year extension that could be worth $115 million, and the team confirmed the signing on Wednesday.

Leonard will earn $50.3 million this season before the new deal kicks in for 2027-28, and the second year is a player option.

That money has to fit next to Barrett, who will make $29.6 million this season in the final year of the four-year, $120 million extension he signed with the Knicks in 2022.

CBS Sports pointed out that Toronto had around $87 million in room under the luxury tax for 2027-28 before the Leonard extension, and that Leonard will eat up most of it.

CBS also noted that keeping both Barrett and guard Jamal Shead, who are set to be free agents after this season, would likely push the Raptors into the tax and possibly the aprons, and the extension has already led to talk of other roster moves.

Webster did not sound worried when he was asked about it, as shown in a clip of his answer.

"No, I think ownership has been incredibly supportive. So, any time, financially, we want to make a go for it, they're very supportive."

That is the answer fans want to hear from a team trying to win now.

Toronto went 46-36 last season and took Cleveland to seven games in the first round, and Barrett was a big part of that.

He averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 57 games while shooting 49.1% from the field, and he hit the last-second 3-pointer that beat the Cavaliers and forced Game 7, according to ESPN's new NBA Rank, which put him at No. 99.

Barrett is not a perfect player, since he shot just 33.9% from three last season, but he is a Toronto native who ESPN calls a reliable secondary scorer.

There have been questions about whether the Raptors should trade him for a bigger name, and Webster's answer suggests the team can afford to keep him instead.

Barrett can sign an extension any time before the start of next offseason, and Eric Koreen of The Athletic has said he expects Webster to take a patient approach, according to the report.

Waiting makes sense, since this season will show how well Barrett fits next to Leonard and forward Scottie Barnes.

Ownership will have to keep spending for this to work, but Webster made the plan sound doable.

Media day is Monday, and camp opens Tuesday in Quebec City, where Barrett gets his first chance to show he is worth the next big contract.

Keeping him is the tough call the Raptors have been heading toward all summer, and Webster says ownership will back it.