Raptors exercise team option on Scottie Barnes' rookie contract

The Toronto Raptors have exercised the fourth-year team option for Scottie Barnes' rookie contract that will keep him with the team through the 2024-25 season.

Toronto did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Barnes averaged 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 34.8 minutes in 77 games last season and registered a career-high 32 points in a victory March 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native also had 15 double-doubles and was the youngest player in franchise history to post a triple-double, with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Raptors selected Barnes with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Barnes is the first draft pick in Raptors history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in his first two NBA seasons.

Heading into the season, new Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic lauded Barnes' defensive play and made it a point to say he can win a Defensive Player of the Year award one day.

“I think one day he’s going to be Defensive Player of the Year. That’s something he wants to be, that he wants to develop into, and I’m going to do everything in my power to help him on that path,” Rajakovic said of the third-year forward.

For Rajakovic, the evolution of Barnes' skills as a defender is all about remaining on the path that he is currently on.

“Just continuing to learn the game, to learn the personnel, being able to guard multiple positions from point guards all the way to the fives, there is so much versatility with his game that it’s awesome,” Rajakovic added.

Toronto opens its 2023-24 season Wednesday against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, a game that can be seen on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.