The Toronto Raptors have made several bold moves ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. Pascal Siakam was sent to Indiana and OG Anunoby went to the Knicks after years of trade rumors. The evaluators were quick to discount Toronto’s return (subscription required), but the Raptors moved to build around Scottie Barnes. They wanted young talent with potential, and RJ Barrett is showing everyone why.

The 24-year-old has taken his game to a new level. He averages 23.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. All of these scoring stats are career highs, and Barrett has dramatically increased his effective field goal and true shooting percentages since arriving in Toronto.

The 1.95 meter tall winger is back home and playing the best basketball of his career. The Raptors are just 1.5 games away from the play-in tournament in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season. Barrett’s breakout is a big reason and could change the complexity of the trade.

Anuoby is one of the elite role players in the NBA. He helped the Raptors win the championship in 2019. The 6-foot-1 forward is a good shooter and versatile defender who has an impact on winning. He’s never afraid to take on the toughest defensive assignment, but Anunoby isn’t an All-Star and never will be.

Barrett represents a cause and is still years away from his peak. Since joining the Raptors, he has shot 51.5 percent from the field and 37.4 percent on his three-pointers. There are also 22.6 points per game, strong rebounding for a guard and improved playmaking. Barrett has reached a new level and reminds the Knicks why they took him third overall in the 2019 draft.

The Raptors also got Immanuel Quickley and the draft pick that turned into Jonathan Mogbo in that trade. Quickley signed a massive five-year extension in the offseason to become Toronto’s point guard of the present and future. Injuries have limited him to just three games this season, but the 25-year-old should continue to improve when healthy. Mogbo was inserted into the rotation as a rookie and showed flashes.

Anunoby remains an elite role player, but the balance of this trade is shifting. It no longer looks like the slam dunk many predicted for New York. Barrett’s All-Star performance and Quickley’s success as Toronto’s point guard would make the Raptors the undisputed winners. Both seem like real possibilities after Barrett’s recent play.

Fans shouldn’t be surprised. Masai Ujiri has been one of the best managers in the NBA for years. He believed in his players a little too much, but found solid value when he eventually moved on. If Barrett and Quickley continue to improve, this could end up being a clear win for the Raptors.

Can RJ Barrett keep up? Does OG Anunoby play a key role in a Knicks championship? Is Immanuel Quickley reaching a new level? There’s a lot more to the story, but things are looking good for the Toronto Raptors. Don’t be surprised if the trend continues in this direction.