RJ Barrett is officially a Raptor now. And the Scotiabank Arena couldn’t be happier than seeing the 23-year-old forward-guard at home in the Canadian team. What made the moment extra sweet was RJ Barrett starting the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home.

The moment Barrett was introduced as the starter is going viral on the internet now. The Canadian crowd is going crazy as they show their love and excitement at how things have taken a turn for the better.

Shock was the first reaction for Barrett when he heard of the trade news first thing in the morning. But that lasted for not more than a second, as it soon turned to happiness. At 23 years old, he is already five seasons into the league. Coming off as a top Duke prospect, the New York Knicks drafted him in 2019 as the third overall pick.

Since then, he’s been part of the Knicks family. So the shock was understandable. But to come home finally to a team that he grew up idolizing, to friends and family; that’s precious and rare. Barrett wasn’t shy about speaking about his feelings, either. “Immediately I was happy. I grew up a Raptors fan all my life. So to come here and put this jersey on this is gonna be great,” he had said.

While there are still areas of improvement for the young guard, the Raptors can still take advantage of the skills that he brings to the table.

How does RJ Barrett help the Raptors?

Barrett is strong and fast. He has a grittiness to him that Toronto has been lacking for quite some time now. Primarily looking to be a valuable addition to the Raptors’ offensive efficiency, Barrett still needs work in the same. As seen in tonight’s game, RJ is highly likely to see more minutes alongside Scottie Barnes.

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Going back to his best traits; NY was scoring 1.275 points per chance on a Barrett cut around a screen. That’s second in the entire league! His ability to absorb contact and set solid screens is going to be an absolute gift for the Raptors. The team has desperately struggled these past seasons with setting screens.

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While the skill-set he brings is a welcome addition, the Raptors can truly take their game to the next level if RJ Barrett can increase his overall offensive efficiency. Then again, there is still a lot of potential to unlock in the young veteran. Putting him with Barnes and Immanuel Quickley should provide the necessary change the Raptors are looking for in Barrett.

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