The Toronto Raptors received a setback on Tuesday when they announced that RJ Barrett will be sidelined for the remainder of the preseason due to a right acromioclavicular joint sprain. The 24-year-old suffered the injury during Sunday’s 125-98 preseason win over the Washington Wizards.
Barrett’s status will be reassessed after the preseason, with the Raptors set to kick off their regular season campaign on October 23 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The AC joint sprain, which affects the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, forced Barrett to exit the game in the second quarter and not return.
Despite his limited playing time, Barrett impressed with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting in just 14 minutes. The Toronto-born player was acquired by the Raptors last season in a trade with the New York Knicks that also saw OG Anunoby head to New York and Immanuel Quickley join Toronto.
With Quickley signing a five-year, $175 million contract extension this summer, the Raptors are banking on the trio of Quickley, Barrett, and rising All-Star Scottie Barnes to lead the team into a new era of competitiveness. Barrett, who represented Team Canada at the Paris Olympics this summer, is entering his sixth NBA season after being drafted third overall in 2019. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 58 games last season, with career averages of 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
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