Toronto Raptors: 2 starting lineups combinations with Scottie Barnes

The Toronto Raptors decided to make Florida State standout Scottie Barnes the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, as they were so intrigued by his style of play and athletic gifts that they decided to bypass expected No. 4 pick Jalen Suggs, who was taken with the next selection by the Orlando Magic.

Barnes is one of the great unknowns in this class. While he has power forward size at 6-9 and just under 230 pounds, his game looks like that of a traditional point guard, as he is at home handling the ball, driving to the lane, and making key passes.

Barnes comes into the NBA with some major flaws that he needs to address, namely his ability to create offense for himself and shoot from the perimeter. These have proven to be fixable flaws, especially with a player development culture as strong as the one in Toronto, but it will take some time.

The Raptors could go in one of several different directions this offseason considering the uncertainty surrounding Kyle Lowry’s free agency pursuit, and the selection of Barnes did little to provide more clarity.

While the term “positionless” has become trite and overused, Barnes is the truest definition of that word. Is ie a Ben Simmons-esque huge point guard with great passing skills? Perhaps a small-ball center with the speed to run the floor? A traditional power forward? Who knows!

Even with Lowry up in the air, the expectation is that Gary Trent Jr. will be back in the fold next year, and Toronto should have enough cap space to pursue a quality center if they want to. Pascal Siakam has tons of trade rumors surrounding him, but he’s still here as of right now.

Nick Nurse and the Raptors could throw out several different lineup combinations next year, as Barnes could allow them almost unparalleled versatility. Don’t be surprised if Toronto rolls out one of these two combinations at the start of next season.

2 Toronto Raptors starting lineups with Scottie Barnes

1. The small-ball lineup

• PG: Fred VanVleet
• SG: Gary Trent Jr. 
• SF: OG Anunoby
• PF: Scottie Barnes
• C: Pascal Siakam

VanVleet is not a perfect player, but he has shown he can be a secondary scorer on this team and a quality point guard when he handles the ball. It’s time for him to make the switch full-time.

Assuming that the Raptors re-sign Trent and have him improve his defensive skills, this will be one of the best combinations in the NBA from a perimeter defense point of view.

With Trent and VanVleet in the backcourt, Barnes ready to move all around the floor and guard any one of the five positions, and Anunoby prepared to once again show he is one of the best defenders in the NBA, good luck trying to score against that bunch.

Will the Toronto Raptors play small with Scottie Barnes?

The big question in this lineup will be Siakam at center. The Raptors unveiled a smaller three-guard lineup last year with Siakam down low, Anunoby at power forward, and Norman Powell on the wing. While the lineup provided some temporary juice, the lack of size ultimately necessitated a change.

If the Raptors are able to supplement this combination’s minutes with some standout bench bodies who can provide rebounding and interior defense, this lineup will absolutely cook teams when Toronto wants to pick up the pace. If Barnes becomes a quality shooter on top of that, it’s game over.

2. The Barnes at PG lineup

• PG: Scottie Barnes
• SG: Fred VanVleet
• SF: OG Anunoby
• PF: Pascal Siakam
• C: Khem Birch/Richaun Holmes

Trent will have to come off of the bench and fill a Sixth Man type of role, but if he is willing to accept that designation, it will allow Barnes to start at point guard, the position he played during his college days in Tallahassee. VanVleet would stay in the combo guard role he perfected over the last few years in this arrangement.

The Raptors need to sign a center to complete this alignment. They could either go small for a player like Khem Birch, who had success with Toronto last year, or try to blow the doors off of the competition by adding a player like Richaun Holmes or Jarrett Allen. If they can pull this off, Barnes could lead a Toronto renaissance.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1420946918985764865

Scottie Barnes could be a quality starting point guard.

The Simmons comparisons might scare some Raptors fans, but Barnes appears to be a more willing shooter than Simmons while still showing off the size, speed, passing, and defense combination that made Philly enticed enough to take him No. 1 overall. Barnes offers unique defensive potential as a point guard.

A 3-point shot would do wonders for his game on the offensive side of the ball, and it would make him an All-Star caliber player at the point guard position.

However, due to the fact Barnes needs some fine-tuning before he can be trusted with the lion’s share of offensive responsibility, the Raptors might be better trying out something different for the time being.