Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is set to sign a rookie max extension worth up to $270 million over five years, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. After completing his third year in the NBA, Barnes became eligible for the rookie max and earned first-time All-Star status with career-high averages of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. This deal will make Barnes the highest-paid player in Raptors franchise history.
Barnes has quickly made an impact on the Raptors since joining the league in 2021, winning Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Rookie honors. He is a versatile two-way player who excels at guarding multiple positions on defense and evolving as a playmaker and scorer on offense. His 3-point shooting has significantly improved, jumping to 34.1% in his third year from 30.1% in his rookie season and 28.1% in his second year.
While the official signing of the contract cannot happen until July 6, agreeing to the extension allows the Raptors to focus on other aspects of their offseason as they work towards transforming into a contender. Despite finishing 11 games outside of the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference this season, the team has a promising group of young players around Barnes, such as RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, who are continuing to develop. The Raptors underwent significant changes by trading veterans Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to build around Barnes.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri expressed his confidence in Barnes, stating, “I think the most difficult thing to do when you do things like this is finding the Scottie Barneses of the world, and we’re lucky to have a really good young player like this to build around.” This extension signifies that the Raptors view Barnes as
