2025 Offseason NBA Trade Idea To Move RJ Barrett
The Toronto Raptors identified their main free-agent target ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline and acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans. After issuing Ingram a lucrative extension, they now project to be over the luxury-tax threshold for next season.
With Scottie Barnes jumping from $10.1 million to $38.7 million, Immanuel Quickley due $32.5 million and Ingram's extension starting at $38.1 million, the Raptors don't have many ways to cut salary. The obvious answer is RJ Barrett, whom they briefly explored moving at the deadline while working through the Ingram deal.
Enter the Washington Wizards, a franchise going through a lengthy rebuild with an aging, veteran guard on a sizable (but cheaper than Barrett) expiring contract in Marcus Smart.
The following is an offseason trade idea to get the Raptors out of the tax while giving the Wizards a forward to add to their collection of young talent.
Full Trade Scenario
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The Toronto Raptors receive: Marcus Smart, $6.1 million trade exception, 2026 second-round pick swap
The Washington Wizards receive: RJ Barrett
Note: This trade can't become official until July 6 (after the annual moratorium), as the Wizards are too close to their first-apron hard cap through the end of June.
The Raptors have the Los Angeles Lakers' second-rounder in 2026, along with their own in the 31-55 range (56-60 will go to the Indiana Pacers). The Wizards have several (Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, and 2-3 more through other complex swaps). Toronto would get the highest selection in return for its lowest.
Why the Toronto Raptors Do It
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If the Raptors land the No. 7 pick in June—the lottery could change that for the better or worse, altering the projected salary—they project to reach about $189 million in payroll. The luxury-tax line is expected to be $187.9 million, so Toronto would be over that threshold, and that's before considering the free agency of Chris Boucher, Orlando Robinson and Garrett Temple.
Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett all have incentives in their contracts as well, so Toronto will need to shed salary if it hopes to avoid the luxury tax.
The Raptors haven't paid the tax since 2018-19, when Kawhi Leonard led them to their only championship in franchise history. They shouldn't be one of the NBA's worst teams next season, but it's a leap to suggest the front office should be dipping into the tax for a non-contender.
Of the 11 Raptors players under contract in 2025-26, only five will earn above $6.4 million. If Poeltl is expendable based on his age (turning 30 in October), Toronto would need a starting center to replace him. The Raptors could target a big in the draft, but they should take the best player available rather than aiming to fill a need.
That leaves Barrett as the odd man out, despite his Canadian roots. That may be a tough pill for local fans to swallow, but that didn't stop the Raptors from sending Kelly Olynyk to the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of the February trade deadline.
The test will be the market for Barrett, almost 25, who is likely too pricey for most teams with $57.3-64.3 million due over the next two seasons. He's much younger than the 31-year-old Smart, but finances often drive team decisions. Smart will enter the final season of his contract at $21.6 million, helping Toronto drop to a projected taxable salary of $183 million (about $5.3 million below the tax line).
Smart would give the team a defensive-minded veteran backcourt presence, while Ingram would step into Barrett's starting role at forward. If Smart is helpful, he could re-sign or extend at a friendlier salary. But based on his age, he's probably more helpful to the Raptors as an expiring contract to flip before the trade deadline, similar to how Bruce Brown Jr. proved instrumental in the Ingram deal.
Why the Washington Wizards Do It
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Washington is in no rush to push for a short-term fix for the worst record in the NBA (relatively tied for that dishonor with the Utah Jazz). The franchise will continue to add and develop young players until a buildable core emerges.
Smart landed with the Wizards from the Grizzlies in the Marvin Bagley III/Johnny Davis deal, but he was largely just a salary-matching throw-in. Washington did the trade to acquire a 2025 first-round pick from Memphis (lottery protected) and Colby Jones (via the Sacramento Kings). Smart isn't in the team's long-term plans, but a means to an end.
While the Wizards have several wings like Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, Kyshawn George, Khris Middleton, Justin Champagnie, Jones, etc., Barrett was the No. 3 overall pick in 2019. He's averaging 21.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. He's not an elite three-point shooter (34.8 percent on his career) but is currently at a respectable 35.9 percent this season.
Middleton carries the heaviest salary, but he's an obvious trade or buyout candidate. The Wizards aren't good enough to turn away talent like Barrett because of positional duplication.
Given his age and the price for the Wizards, giving up an older veteran guard and a second-round pick swap for a look at Barrett seems like a win-win. His salary wouldn't push the Wizards into the tax, and his contract is relatively short (through 2026-27).
Washington needs to act opportunistically, and financial hurdles may prompt the Raptors to give up a young, quality player after choosing to acquire and extend Ingram. Flipping Barrett for Smart should be an easy decision for both franchises.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.
