Barnes to get $224M US, Quickley $175M over 5 years.Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley are embracing the present moment as their futures with the Toronto Raptors take shape.
On Monday, the Raptors officially announced new contracts for Barnes and Quickley, securing the team’s young core for at least the next three seasons. These agreements solidify the foundation that Raptors president Masai Ujiri is leveraging for a swift rebuild, yet both players are focused on the immediate future.
“At the news conference held at the Globe and Mail Centre, Barnes expressed his readiness to move forward, stating, ‘While we talk about rebuilding, my mindset is all about winning now, every single day.'”
“I aim to win basketball games and restore this team to its former glory, striving to reclaim our position at the top of the Eastern Conference.”
Quickley emphasized his immediate readiness when discussing his timeline: “Right now.”
“I believe I understand what it takes to win, especially reaching the playoffs,” he remarked. “I’ve experienced playoffs and victories, so it’s about grasping the daily requirements.”
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Quickley added, “It won’t be easy, but knowing that with determination and effort, anything is achievable.”
The Raptors endured a tough 2023-24 season marked by adversity, including a 15-game losing streak fueled by injuries, personal losses, and the NBA’s lifetime ban of backup center Jontay Porter for allegedly manipulating game outcomes for betting purposes. These factors contributed to Toronto finishing with a 25-57 record, placing 12th in the Eastern Conference.
The past year and a half also witnessed Ujiri’s front office restructuring the team through a series of four trades.
“It’s been a challenging period, and perhaps some of it falls on me and some of it came at us from various directions, but it wasn’t characteristic of us,” remarked Ujiri. “That’s not our identity, nor what I aspire for.
“This isn’t what this team, our fans, or this city deserve in any manner.”
The financial terms of Barnes and Quickley’s multi-year contracts were not disclosed as per team policy.
However, according to media reports, Barnes agreed to a five-year contract worth $224.9 million USD beginning in the 2025-26 season, while Quickley reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth $175 million.
RJ Barrett, originally from Mississauga, Ontario, was traded to Toronto from the New York Knicks along with Quickley on December 30. Barrett’s contract extends until the 2026-27 season.
Among this trio, Quickley is the eldest at 25 years old, providing the Raptors with a promising young core to build around.
“I’m not fond of losing, and all this talk about rebuilding, it’s whatever,” Barnes commented. “I want to compete and win games. With the team we’ve assembled, I believe we can achieve that on the court.”
“We have everything we need right here, and we can make it happen.”
Barnes earned his first All-Star selection last season, averaging 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals across 60 games.
Quickley posted averages of 17 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds combined between his time with New York and Toronto. His statistics notably improved after joining the Raptors, where he transitioned from shooting guard to point guard and saw increased minutes per game.
During the news conference and subsequent media interactions, Ujiri reiterated three times that the Raptors would return to championship contention.
“From the first day I took this job, I guaranteed it, and I’m guaranteeing it again: We will win in Toronto, mark my words,” he stated with a laugh and a shrug in response to questions about the timeline.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, along with players Bruce Brown, Gradey Dick, Davion Mitchell, and Ochai Agbaji, attended the news conference. The team was preparing to head to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League later in the week.
Toronto’s first game is scheduled for July 13 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the University of Nevada campus in Las Vegas.