R.J. Barrett is back home.
Immanuel Quickley is in a new country.
Together they met the media in Toronto on Monday for the first time since Saturday’s blockbuster trade that moved them from the Knicks to the Raptors in a deal centered around OG Anunoby.
“I mean who doesn’t want to come home and play in front of family and friends and get a team that I’ve always loved so much back to where they were in 2019?” Barrett, a native of Toronto, told reporters, referring to the franchise’s lone NBA championship that year.
Barrett, a 6-7 guard who was the No. 3 overall pick in 2019 by the Knicks, is averaging 18.2 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field and 33% from deep.
In September 2022, Barrett signed a 4-year, $107-million extension with the Knicks on an annual average salary of $26,750,000.
He now joins a Raptors team that is 12-20 and sitting in the 12th position in the Eastern Conference despite featuring Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes and Dennis Schroder.
“I know who I am,” he said, per Raptors beat writer Josh Lewenberg. “I’ve shown who I am over the course of the years. Just trying to get better with the Raptors system and hopefully unlock some new areas of my game that I haven’t been able to show as much. I’m just excited to be here and be part of this.”
Quickley, a 6-2 guard who was the No. 25 pick out of Kentucky in 2020, is averaging 15.0 points per game while shooting 45% from the field and 40% from deep.
Quickley will become a restricted free agent after the 2023-24 season after he and the Knicks failed to agree to a long-term deal in the preseason. Some industry experts believe he’s in line for a multi-year deal worth $20-25 million annually.
“That is my brother right there,” Barrett said of Quickley. “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…
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