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New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

RJ Barrett discusses trade from Knicks, returning 'home'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/1/24

RJ Barrett addressed the Canadian media for the first time Monday since being acquired by the Toronto Raptors in a trade with the New York Knicks on Saturday.

Barrett was selected by the Knicks with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played the first four-plus seasons of his career in the Big Apple but is originally from Toronto.

Barrett: "It's great. I'm really happy, really excited to be here. I'm thankful. I'm blessed... I grew up a Raptors fan all my life. So to come here and put the jersey on, it's going to be great."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 1, 2024

The Duke product was picked up by the NBA's lone team north of the border along with fourth-year guard Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for standout defensive small forward OG Anunoby, fourth-year big man Precious Achiuwa and fourth-year point guard Malachi Flynn.

Barrett and Quickley helped New York's star pair in point guard Jalen Brunson and All-Star power forward Julius Randle to lead the Knicks to their highest win total (47) in 10 years last season. The team also made the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2013.

Barrett on Quickely: "That is my brother right there. He's going to come in and give you energy every single night. He's going to play his butt off. He's a team guy. He's a hard worker... I'm going to take care of him, he's got my back. It's easier to come here with (him)."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 1, 2024

The Raptors new southpaw has been at the center of scores of trade rumors since 2022, including heavy chatter of potential deals with the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers.

Barrett has appeared in at least 70 games each of the last three seasons (including all 72 in the pandemic-altered 2020-21 campaign) and had been a steady force in New York's starting lineup. He's averaging 18.2 points and career lows in rebounds (4.3), assists (2.4) and minutes per game (29.5) across 26 contests this season while producing a .423/.331/.831 shooting line.

The Knicks are looking to make their third postseason in the last four campaigns this spring, while the Raptors are in a bit of a rebuild.

Since winning its first championship in franchise history in 2019 and making the Eastern Conference semifinals in the NBA "bubble" in 2020, Toronto has only made the playoffs once in the last three years. The Raptors went 27-45 in the 2020-21 campaign and qualified for the tournament at 48-34 during the 2021-22 season (eliminated in the first round), before missing the field in 2022-23.

Barrett and Quickley join first-year head coach Darko Rajakovic in what Raptors fans hope is a quick turnaround this winter, as they closed 2023 at 12-20 to begin the newest season.

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