Raptors Roster Imbalance: Can Three Wings Actually Coexist?

The Toronto Raptors find themselves in a peculiar roster situation that combines both excitement and instability. Following the mid-season acquisition of Brandon Ingram, paired with his subsequent $40 million annual extension, the franchise now faces a significant configuration challenge. With Scottie Barnes already in place and RJ Barrett contributing at the wing position, the fundamental question emerges: can all three players meaningfully share court time?

In practical terms, the math doesn’t add up for simultaneous heavy rotation. While occasional stretches with all three on the court during specific lineups remain possible, the organization will inevitably need to stagger their playing time. This reality opens the door to a potential roster pivot—specifically, trading away one of their wing assets to achieve better overall composition.

The Likely Trade Candidate

Given that Barnes represents the franchise’s long-term foundation and Ingram brings new offensive firepower despite his unproven tenure with Toronto, Barrett emerges as the probable candidate for relocation. This strategic move would create space for the team to address more pressing roster needs.

What’s Missing from the Current Construction?

The Raptors require two critical upgrades to maximize their remaining core.

Perimeter Shooting stands as the primary need. Neither Barnes nor Ingram possess elite long-range capabilities—Barnes remains a developing three-point shooter while Ingram approaches the skill reluctantly. Adding wings with reliable shooting, whether creating space off-dribble or catch-and-shoot scenarios, would substantially improve floor spacing. Options like Coby White from Chicago ($12.8 million salary) represent more feasible targets than premium shooters elsewhere, particularly when considering salary-matching constraints. Even Derrick White’s proven perimeter consistency, while requiring significant salary consideration, illustrates the caliber of complementary pieces the roster currently lacks. The addition of such floor-spacers would work seamlessly alongside existing wing Gradey Dick without redundancy.

Frontcourt Depth represents the secondary priority. While Jakob Pöltl provides reliable starting-caliber rim protection and demonstrated offensive improvement, acquiring a legitimate floor-spacing power forward or center with legitimate size would expand tactical flexibility around Barnes and Ingram as primary scorers.

What Makes Barrett Tradeable?

Understanding Barrett’s actual market value requires acknowledging his positional evolution. During his New York tenure, he operated primarily as a guard, frequently facing quicker defenders matched against his size. Upon arrival in Toronto via the OG Anunoby trade, the Raptors reconceived his role as a forward—particularly as an unconventional power forward rather than a shooting guard. This repositioning unlocked additional playmaking opportunities alongside him and enabled the 6’6" wing to function as a playmaking-oriented four rather than a spot-up option.

The transition produced measurable improvements. Barrett’s scoring efficiency rose noticeably, and his overall game profile grew closer to its potential compared to his New York period. However, his non-elite shooting capability remains a limiting factor in trade markets. Teams acquiring Barrett should enter discussions understanding his optimal role: a playmaking slasher operating at an elevated positional level, not a volume scorer or traditional wing. For the right defensive system and spacing-focused offense, he offers legitimate utility.

Whether the Raptors ultimately maintain this three-wing configuration or execute a strategic trade, the coming months will clarify whether experimentation can work or whether reorganization serves the franchise better.