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Scottie Barnes Rumors
An example of how Ujiri and Webster differed: it was Ujiri who was resistant to signing Pascal Siakam to an extension in the season prior to him being traded to the Indiana Pacers in January of 2024. Ujiri didn’t want the risk of a long-term deal on his books for a player who he was no longer sure was a fit with Scottie Barnes’ timeline. An injury to Siakam after he signed, or even just a downturn in performance, would have left the Raptors in a difficult situation. But not signing him also meant that they had less control over where Siakam could be traded as he headed into the final year of his contract, likely less leverage for extracting a top price. Webster was in favour of extending Siakam, which would have given the Raptors more control in the trade market if they wanted to go that route, as they would be trading a player under team control for multiple years.
Ryan Wolstat: Fun fact: Sandro Mamukelashvili (going to take a while to learn that one) played with new teammate RJ Barrett at Montverde. Scottie Barnes went to the school after them.
Eric Koreen: Bobby Marks' report about the cap growing by 7% in 2026-27 will have a big impact around the league, given many thought it would be 10% again. All contracts — including Scottie Barnes' and Brandon Ingram's — with maximum 8% raises will be growing faster than the cap, creating a tighter squeeze. Raps have five players guaranteed for 26-27 not including some likely club options being picked up: Dick, Walter + more: Barnes, Ingram, IQ, Barrett, CMB (assuming 120% of rookie scale). They will get paid 150.6 M. Tax at 7% is about 201M. At 10% it would have been 206.7M. Real difference.
Erik Slater: Asked Noa Essengue if there are any NBA players he studies or models his game after: “I’d say guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi. They can really do everything on the court. Play defense, dribble, shooting.” pic.x.com/5cWSMsvftS
Scottie Barnes to play for Jamaica?
Daniel Blake: BREAKING: Been informed that talks are underway for @Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes, @DetroitPistons centre Isaiah Stewart & @spurs guard Devin Vassell to join Jamaica’s growing basketball team. Twin brothers Amen & Ausar Thompson begun their passport process last week. @LAClippers star Norman Powell & @Timberwolves guard Josh Minott have already committed & will play in the FIBA World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifiers in August.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo: I always believed this is a phase into my career, and I always felt like that would be my last phase—as a guy that can playmake and can set up the team and be like a legit point forward out there. At times I show that I can do it. At times, when I have a great point guard next to me, I just let the guy do his job, and I do my job. But I believe—I’ve seen one of the greatest players, LeBron James, being the best at it. You see a lot of people playing that way right now—from Paolo, from Scottie Barnes. You see a lot of players that can handle the ball, put teammates in the right place, playmake, and make the team better. It’s something I enjoy doing. If I have the opportunity to come back next year and be able to do that, I would love it. I think I can be good. I can help the team in that way."
Finally, there’s Toronto, where team president Masai Ujiri has been rumored to be scheming ways to get Giannis since roughly forever. The trade equation here seems pretty simple: Toronto’s 2025 lottery pick and Scottie Barnes, plus whatever other draft considerations the Bucks would want to level out the deal. (The Raptors have all their future firsts to put in a trade.)
“[Leadership] is never easy but I’m really willing to learn,” said Barnes. “And then you take things that you see from other people, as well, and you find ways to [implement] it. It’s all about being comfortable and I feel comfortable talking to these guys. We’re a great team and we get along with each other really well, so it makes it easy.”
The Barnes that arrived at training camp in the fall was better prepared for the responsibility he’s inherited and everything that comes with it on and off the court. He's always been a vocal player, but according to his teammates he’s far more assertive during timeouts, at practice and in the locker room. He’s organized various team dinners throughout the year. In December, when the team was in the middle of its worst stretch, he called and led a film session with the starters to make sure that everybody was on the same page. He’s held himself and his teammates accountable behind closed doors and in front of the microphone, where he’s looked more confident and been more engaging. Each night, before they take the floor, he gives his team a pre-game speech.
“I always believed and trusted that he has that leader in him and he was really able to showcase that this year,” said his head coach and most ardent supporter, Darko Rajakovic. “[We’ve had] a lot of conversations [about] how he needs to talk to his teammates, how he needs to lead, what kind of example he needs to set. This whole season he was always the hardest playing player in every practice we had. He was always the one setting the tone for everybody and that’s something that I do not take lightly, and I really appreciated.”
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Ryan Wolstat: Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic speaking now at season-ending availability. "I think it was a good season for us, now it's time for the next chapter, time for us to take the next step." How? Doubling down on hard work, young core and developing our team. "Scottie Barnes is a unicorn, he's an amazing player. Scottie Barnes is the reason why our defence was so good and improved this season." Darko says Barnes was experimenting more with post-ups, drives and they need to figure out what's best approach for him to take advantage of his gifts. Says Nikola Jokic, "in my opinion the best player in the world, makes right decision 100% of the time. Not 85%. So (Raptors must) play right way, not have an agenda." Calls it winning basketball.
NBA Communications: Other nominees ... West: Luke Dončić (LAL), Anthony Edwards (MIN), Aaron Gordon (DEN), Aaron Wiggins (OKC) and Ivica Zubac (LAC). East: Scottie Barnes (TOR), Onyeka Okongwu (ATL), and Payton Pritchard (BOS).
Josh Lewenberg: More Brandon Ingram, on Scottie Barnes: "What I've learned is that he stays ready. He never complains about practice. I don't know how many minutes he played last night but he took the game very seriously... Players that don't have an ego and play hard, those are the guys you want to be around"
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