Scottie Barnes contract: Raptors forward becomes highest-paid player in team history with new deal, per report

Barnes, coming off his first All-Star appearance, is signing an extension worth up to $270M

By Jasmyn Wimbish Jun 24, 2024 at 12:40 pm ET• 1 min read

Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Scottie Barnes intends to sign a rookie max extension worth up to $270 million over five years, per Adrian Wojnarowski. Barnes was eligible for the rookie max after completing his third year in the NBA, where he became a first-time All-Star after averaging career-highs of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

The deal makes Barnes the highest paid player in Raptors franchise history. After entering the league in 2021, Barnes made an immediate impact on the Raptors, earning Rookie of the Year, and First Team All-Rookie honors with averages of 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He's asserted himself as a versatile two-way player who can guard multiple positions on defense, while developing as a playmaker and scorer on offense.

Barnes' 3-point shooting specifically took a major leap in this third year, as he shot 34.1% from deep on nearly five attempts per game. That's a significant improvement from the 30.1% he shot in his rookie season, and the 28.1% he shot in Year 2. If he can get that number up a few percentage points higher, it'll force opposing teams to play him tougher on the perimeter, which will open up the paint for him, where he excels the most.