Canadian RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley thrilled to join Toronto Raptors

RJ Barrett woke up in an Indianapolis hotel room, ready to play the Pacers with the New York Knicks. But when he checked his phone he thought he was still dreaming because he'd been traded to his hometown Toronto Raptors.

"My initial reaction was like, 'what's going on?' I just woke up to it," said a smiling Barrett. "I was immediately happy.

"I grew up a Raptors fan all my life. So to come here and put this jersey on, it's going to be great."

Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., and guard Immanuel Quickley had their first morning shootaround with the Raptors on Monday, two days after they were traded to Toronto from the Knicks.

Even two days after the deal was made official, Barrett was still bubbling with excitement.

"Really, really happy, really excited to be here. I'm thankful and blessed," said Barrett at a post-practice news conference. "There's so many things I want to say, but it just sums up to being thankful to God for this opportunity.

Toronto sent forwards OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa along with guard Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks on Saturday for Barrett, Quickley, and a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The 23-year-old Barrett is averaging 18.2 points per game this season but has struggled lately with his outside shot, going 2 for 12 from three-point range over his last two games with New York. The No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft helped the Knicks reach the playoffs twice in the last three seasons after missing them the previous seven.

He said that he thinks the change of scenery came at the right time in his career.

"I think because of my time in New York, I'm able to to have a routine down. I know who I am, I know what I do," said Barrett. "Maybe if I came here at 19 it would have been a little