NBA Notes: Raptors, RJ Barrett, Nuggets, DeMar DeRozan, Timberwolves

Raptors

The Raptors and RJ Barrett have yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension, and that naturally raises another question. Namely, could Toronto eventually decide to trade him?

Jeremy Brener of NBA on SI makes the case for doing exactly that, noting that Barrett is entering the final season of his contract at just under $30 million. That expiring salary could have value in a trade, particularly for a team interested in acquiring Barrett’s Bird rights.

There’s also an argument that Barrett’s value may be near its peak. He shot a career-best 49 percent from the field last season, and Toronto has other options on the wing, including Ja’Kobe Walter, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles.

None of that means the Raptors are shopping Barrett. But until an extension gets done, his name figures to remain one worth watching.

Nuggets

DeMar DeRozan has started every game he’s played since his rookie season. So is everyone certain he’s suddenly headed for the Nuggets’ bench?

Jared Koch of NBA on SI wonders whether Denver might instead put DeRozan in the starting lineup after signing the six-time All-Star to a one-year minimum contract.

DeRozan averaged 18.4 points while shooting 49.7 percent last season and hasn’t come off the bench since 2009-10.

If coach David Adelman does start him, either Christian Braun or Cameron Johnson would presumably move to the second unit, with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon essentially locked into the other three spots.

Still, sixth man appears to be the cleaner fit. DeRozan would give Denver a proven scorer and creator for a second unit that lost Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are preaching continuity after majority owner Marc Lore agreed to sell most of his stake to fellow ownership-group member Marc Stad, but there are still questions about what changes under the new arrangement.

Andrew Carlson of NBA on SI points to perhaps the biggest one: How willing will the Stad family be to spend into the luxury tax?

Minnesota hasn’t been afraid of a large payroll while trying to contend, and the expectation is that basketball operations will continue under the same general philosophy.

Then there’s what Carlson calls the possibility of “new owner syndrome.” New owners sometimes want to put their fingerprints on a franchise, whether that means a major personnel move or changes elsewhere in the organization.