Scottie Barnes to sign max extension with Raptors

Toronto intends to rebuild its roster around the 2022 Rookie of the Year, according to Wojnarowski, who adds that agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball recently met with team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster to work out the terms of the deal. Barnes will become eligible to sign it once the moratorium lifts on July 6.

Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype offers details on the projected salaries for Barnes, noting that the base value of the extension will be nearly $225M, but it could reach $270M if he makes an All-NBA team next season. 

Barnes is slated to earn $38,775,000 when the extension begins with the 2025-26 season, followed by $41,877,000 in 2026-27, $44,979,000 in 2027-28, $48,081,000 in 2028-29 and $51,183,000 in 2029-30.

Barnes’ extension and an expected new deal for Immanuel Quickley mean the Raptors likely won’t have any cap space to work with next summer, Gozlan adds. They could have about $30M available this year if they decline their $23M team option on Bruce Brown or trade him without receiving much salary in return.

Barnes has emerged as Toronto’s franchise player since being drafted with the fourth pick in 2021. He earned his first All-Star selection this season, averaging 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 60 games. His season ended early when he underwent surgery for a broken bone in his left hand in early March.

The Raptors seemed to anoint him as the key to their future when they traded away OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in separate deals over the winter.

Barnes becomes the first member of the 2021 draft class to reach an extension with his team. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs are among the others in line for extensions this summer.