The Raptors are keeping one of the best young players in the NBA for the long term.
Toronto is reportedly set to sign guard Scottie Barnes to a five-year, supermax contract worth up to $270 million. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The contract, which Barnes is set to sign on July 6, makes him the highest-paid player in Raptors history.
According to ESPN, Barnes’ salary is guaranteed at $225 million, which would rank him 17th in average annual value (AAV).
If he hits incentives and reaches his full potential of $54 million annual salary, he could become the fifth-highest-paid player in the NBA.
The 22-year-old had his best season last year, averaging 19.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while earning his first All-Star selection in his third season.
The former Florida State Seminole has performed well in all three seasons in the Association, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021-22 and averaging at least 15.3 points per game each season.
As part of his rookie contract, Barnes was set to make just over $10.3 million during the 2024-25 season before becoming a free agent in 2025.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is the first player of his age to sign a big contract, and 2024 will be the first year such a player will be eligible for bigger paydays.
According to Basketball-Reference, Barnes’ 15.9 win shares are the second-highest among his draft class behind only Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley (19.3).
Despite Barnes’ stellar play, Toronto went 25-57 in coach Darko Rajakovic’s first season and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors, who traded Pascal Siakam to the Pacers and OG Anunoby to the Knicks for the 2023-24 season, went 3-19 in their final 22 games.
Locking down Barnes for the foreseeable future would allow Toronto to build a core team that also includes former Knicks guard/forward RJ Barrett.
The franchise’s key free agents include guards Immanuel Quickley and Gary Trent Jr.
Toronto is looking to lay the foundation for its first playoff appearance since 2022.
