Toronto Raptors: Where would Scottie Barnes fit best on this roster?

The Toronto Raptors, in possession of the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, are currently favored to select Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs, as they would turn the page on the Kyle Lowry era by selecting a pro-ready passer with tremendous passing skill and scoring ability. However, Florida State dynamo Scottie Barnes has been gaining steam of late.

The Raptors are reportedly going to consider selecting Barnes No. 4 overall, as they are intrigued by his truly positionless style of play. At 6-9 and 225 pounds, Barnes can bring the ball up the court, make key passes, finish inside, and rebound at a solid clip.

Given Toronto’s potential need to replace Lowry and desire for a center that can start long-term, picking a nominal forward like Barnes might seem a bit odd to some fans, especially if it comes at the expense of a point guard.

Barnes might be scouted by some as a small forward or a more athletic power forward, but the Raptors have both of those spots locked down long-term thanks to OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Unless the Raptors want to stick their highest draft pick in over a decade on the bench, they need to adopt one of these two plans.

Where would Scottie Barnes get minutes with the Toronto Raptors?

Option 1: Center

A player with Barnes’ 7-3 wingspan and athleticism profiles as an excellent defender. Most of his offense is generated from finishing at the rim, where he could be too quick for opposing centers to handle. So, draft him at four and stick him in the paint, right?

Well, Barnes is almost the exact same height and weight as Siakam, and while playing the Cameroonian star at center in some smaller lineups worked initially, a change was eventually needed after some struggles with interior defense. That fact, coupled with inexperience as a true center, might make for a steep learning curve.

Barnes might end up being a better defender than Siakam when it’s all said and done, as evidenced by the fact he is earning Draymond Green comparisons, but teaching him a whole new position as a rookie could screw his development up.

Option 2: Point guard.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo point-forwarding his way to a championship and Ben Simmons being able to become a DPOY candidate in Philadelphia, Toronto might try to take advantage of Barnes’ basic experience at point guard in college in order to create one of the most unique and defensively stingy lineups in the game.

While the Simmons model has helped the former LSU star become one of the game’s best defensive players, the postseason has shown that without substantial offensive improvements, this style can weigh a team down in the postseason.

Barnes does a ton of things well, but perimeter shooting is not one of them, and if he doesn’t improve his shot quickly out of the gate, the Raptors might be saddled with an oversized point guard that is a liability on the perimeter.

Unfortunately, the two ways Barnes could earn immediate playing time involve switching his position from to either a small-ball center or a huge point guard in the Simmons mold. This would make the Raptors one of the best defensive teams in the league, but concerns about his offensive potential could come back to bite Toronto if they aren’t careful.