Why 2026-2027 Season is Crucial for RJ Barrett and Toronto Raptors

Guard RJ Barrett hit a buzzer-beater to force Game 7 against Cleveland in May, averaged 24.1 points across the playoff series, and then walked into his exit interview and said the only thing on his mind was staying in Toronto.

That type of postseason run usually sets a player up to test the open market, especially heading into the final year of a contract worth $107 million.

Barrett is not interested in that path.

The 26-year-old grew up in Mississauga, roughly 30 minutes from the Toronto Raptors practice facility, and after two and a half seasons in a Raptors uniform, he has left no doubt about where he wants to play next.

Barrett addressed his contract situation after the Raptors were eliminated by the Cavaliers in the first round, and his answer left no room for interpretation.

"I understand the business, but I want to stay here. I don't have any problems saying that," Barrett said following the series. "I want to be here for the rest of my career. I don't ever want to leave."

Most players in that spot would have been more guarded about tipping their hand before negotiations begin, especially coming off a season that raised their value across the league.

Barrett went the other direction and told the front office exactly where he stands before the final year of his deal even starts.

Barrett's 2025-26 regular season was the most complete of his career.

He averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 57 games while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, and the efficiency jump from his earlier years in New York was big enough to change how opposing defenses prepared for him.

The playoffs pushed him even further.

Barrett shot 38.6 percent from three in the series against Cleveland and averaged 7.0 rebounds per game, showing a physical edge that had not been part of his game before.

The game winner in Game 6 with 1.2 seconds remaining became the defining play of Toronto's season and turned Barrett into the type of player a franchise builds around rather than trades at peak value.

Barrett wants to stay, and the Raptors would probably like to keep him in my opinion, but the salary cap makes it hard to pay everyone the organization has committed to building around.

Toronto already has over $93,754,690 million tied up in center Jakob Poeltl, guard Immanuel Quickley, and forward Scottie Barnes heading into next season, and adding a market-value extension for Barrett would push the payroll into luxury tax territory.

Reports from earlier this summer suggested Barrett is willing to take a hometown discount to remain with the franchise, and guard Dillon Brooks's three-year, $73 million extension with Phoenix has been the benchmark for Barrett's market value.

Both sides want to find a number that works before Barrett hits unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027.

Training camp opens September 29 in Quebec City, and Barrett will walk in knowing the front office has heard him.