Raptors predicted to part ways with $107M high volume-scorer after adding Clippers' Kawhi Leonard

The Toronto Raptors are trying to make some noise in what is going to be a jam-packed Eastern Conference. The Raptors are trying to get back to being a title contender after winning a championship in 2019.

Toronto has a good chunk of young talent that continues to grow throughout the roster. The Raptors tried to update the roster this summer by trading for Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard.

“The LA Clippers have agreed to trade All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The deal marks a return to Canada for the star who led the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.

However, the trade just now got finalized after a month-long investigation on the Los Angeles Clippers and Leonard. Despite the trade just now being finalized, Leonard has been with Toronto.

“Per league sources, the Raptors, Leonard's camp and the camps of other prominent players in the trade remain very confident it will go through soon. Leonard, it should be noted, is known to be with his Raptors teammates (in an unofficial capacity) on a retreat of sorts in Miami this week," The Athletic's Sam Amick wrote.

With bringing in a guy like Leonard, that could mean a roster decision will have to be made at some point. Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney believes the Raptors will decide to move on from RJ Barrett.

“Barrett is a volume scorer, and that’s just not the right role for him. Neither is $30 million the right price tag. But his deal is expiring, so he will have that value,” Deveney wrote.

This would be a hard breakup, to say the least, as Barrett is playing for his hometown team. However, the NBA is a cruel business. On an expiring deal, the likelihood of getting shipped out is even higher.

Barrett is on the last year of his $107 million rookie extension. All of these moves will be made during the season, so he will have time to prove why he should stay. If the opportunity comes, there is reason to believe Toronto will move on from the former Duke Blue Devil.

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