Recently acquired Raptors forward labelled as 'toxic asset'

The Toronto Raptors sent OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round draft pick on Saturday. Barrett was the headlining player heading back to the Raptors. As a Toronto native, Barrett will now be playing for his hometown team. 

However, not everybody around the NBA believes the Raptors made a good deal. Some people within front offices around the league are fairly low on Barrett's potential to be a star at the NBA level. During a recent episode of Zach Lowe's "The Lowe Post" podcast, he revealed how some people around the league view Barrett as a 'toxic asset.'

“I’ve always said if there’s a continuum of RJ Barrett optimism and pessimism—and over here on the pessimistic side is like, ‘He just stinks, he’s a toxic asset,’" Lowe said. "And that is a word that got thrown around yesterday in my conversations with front office people and coaches—toxic asset.” 

Barrett, 23, made his debut for the Raptors on Monday. He ended his debut game for Toronto with 19 points, 9 rebounds and one assist, shooting 50% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. However, he did accumulate five turnovers.  No matter how you viewed Barrett's first performance for his hometown team, it's worth remembering it's just one game. 

The truth is, Barrett is still four or five years away from reaching his prime as a player. He has significant room to grow and develop his game. The Knicks were progressing too quickly to continue showing patience with Barrett. The Raptors, however, will want him to continue improving alongside Scottie Barnes and Quickley. They can afford to be more patient. 

Masai Ujiri isn't known for making snap decisions, especially in the trade market. He will undoubtedly have done his due diligence on Barrett and what he can bring to the team in both the long and short term. Barett is in the first year of a four-year $107M extension. The hope will be that he can justify such a significant salary by the time he's nearing the end of that deal.

Barrett is playing in front of his hometown crowd. He will be surrounded by family and friends. Whatever happened during his tenure with the Knicks is now firmly in the past. The star potential that he possesses can still be fulfilled. He's only a toxic asset if you're expecting the absolute worst from him, and judging by the Raptors' decision to acquire him in return for Anunoby, it would appear they view him as a positive asset for the future.