Raptors: Grading Scottie Barnes and the rookies after preseason

The Toronto Raptors took down the Washington Wizards in quite an exhilarating fashion on Tuesday night, pushing their preseason record to 3-2. They leaned on plenty of their younger players, including defensive switchblade Scottie Barnes and 6-9 point guard Dalano Banton, to helps secure the win.

Barnes and Banton, in addition to a couple of players on two-way contracts like David Johnson and Justin Champagnie, made their debuts in Toronto during this series of exhibitions games. For the most part, Nick Nurse should be pleased with how these players performed.

Considering the combination of the injuries impacting the starting rotation and the organizational desire to get much younger this season, getting the rookies playing well was a point of emphasis in the offseason, and the preseason makes it seem like they are well on their way to realizing that goal.

Of course, some players had better, more consistent stretches than others. How did this rookie class fair in their first bits of action? Do any players need more seasoning in the G League?

Grading the 2021 Toronto Raptors rookie class’ preseason.

Scottie Barnes

9.6 points on 47% shooting in 26 minutes might not sound like Barnes was dominant at times, but anyone who watched those games can see that the No. 4 overall pick already profiles as an above-average defender, passer, and playmaker due to his tremendous feel for the game.

Barnes averaged 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, the latter tally of the two ending up as the best average for any Raptor in this series of games. This dime of a bounce pass against Washington was without question the highlight of the night for the former Seminole.

https://twitter.com/theshift_sports/status/1448084686115418114

Scottie Barnes has impressed during his first Toronto Raptors games.

On defense, Barnes was thrown into the fire against the likes of Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum. Not only did Barnes play well against them, but he held Beal without a made field goal in the first half. For anyone to do that, let alone a rookie, that’s an astounding accomplishment.

Barnes might not have lit up the box score from a scoring point of view, but he did basically everything else with skill and aplomb, all while providing a boundless level of energy, enthusiasm, and hustle. It’s hard to give him anything but the highest marks for his play in the first five games.

Grade: A