The Toronto Raptors‘ playoff odds in 2021-22 have been boosted by the addition of Scottie Barnes to the long-term core. The No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has been such an impressive, versatile chess piece that he pushed his way into the starting lineup as soon as possible and never looked back.
Barnes is averaging 14.5 points on 47% shooting, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. While he’s had some rookie mistakes on the defensive end, Barnes has generally been promising on that end, as the versatility he has displaced has been excellent for someone who was in high school just a few years ago.
The Raptors were originally given strange looks for taking Barnes fourth overall, as concerns about his shooting and positional fit in the NBA were real. Despite the fact he has to share time with so many high-usage players in the starting lineup, he’s become an effective two-way contributor early in his career.
The Raptors should be thrilled that Barnes has hit the ground running, as he and Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley will likely fight it out for Rookie of the Year. Barnes has clearly been a better player than most of the top five picks he was drafted alongside.
Toronto Raptors: 3 rookies Scottie Barnes is outperforming.
3. Jalen Suggs
Suggs was the player most expected the Raptors to take over Barnes, though Orlando eventually ended up with the skilled point guard. While the Magic have seen Suggs take steps forward of late, Barnes is the clear winner when the two are compared head-to-head.
Suggs is averaging 12.4 points and 4.4 assists per game this season, but he’s doing it while making just 37% of his shots and 23% of his 3-pointers. After a standout month of January, Suggs is back to shooting 38% from the field and just 16% on 3-point shots for the Magic.
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes is a better scorer than Jalen Suggs.
Barnes came into the season with some questions about his jump shot, yet he’s stroking it at a respectable 31% clip this season. When paired with his interior scoring, it becomes clear that Barnes is still the superior player on the offensive end when compared to Suggs.
While Suggs should be able to show off more of his skills if Orlando put more pieces around him, the fact that Barnes has hit the ground running as a rookie is making the sluggish start from Suggs more noticeable. Through just over one-half of the pair’s first season, Toronto’s decision to pick Barnes has been vindicated.
2. Jalen Green
Green is being given every opportunity to experiment and find his way in the NBA for a Rockets team that knows they aren’t going anywhere this season. Like Suggs, Green’s recent quality run of form pales in comparison to what Barnes is doing for a postseason contender.
Green is averaging 14.4 points, but he’s doing so while making just 38% of his shots and turning the ball over 2.3 times per game. Some advanced numbers show that Green’s inefficiency and the steep defensive learning curve he is dealing with have limited his effectiveness.
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes is doing more things than Jalen Green.
As the Rockets proved in their loss against the Raptors, they have a long way to go before they can provide Green with the proper support he needs. Barnes might not be the primary scoring option on his team, but he’s still managing to score more than Green while being a better defensive asset.
Green will have a very long career in this league. The fact that he’s done the things he has on the offensive end despite just turning 20 years less than two weeks ago. However, as far as any sort of rookie year evaluation is concerned, Toronto may leave this season with fewer questions about Barnes than Houston will have about Green.
1. Cade Cunningham
Cunningham is leading all rookies in scoring at 15.6 points per game, and he’s done so while occasionally grabbing a few triple-doubles here and there. While Cunningham has no doubt put himself back in the Rookie of the Year race, his former Montverde Academy teammate might be having a better year given the context of his numbers.
On top of the fact that Cunningham has struggled with consistency in his rookie season, his stats are just a bit less substantial than Barnes thanks to playing on a Pistons team that might end up with their second consecutive No. 1 pick. Barnes has played a part in pushing the Raptors towards the postseason.
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes is more efficient than Cade Cunningham.
Both Cunningham and Barnes have proven to be strong on-ball defenders with some off-ball lapses, intuitive passers, and surprising shooters from deep. Where Barnes gets the edge is his finishing at the rim, defensive responsibilities, and his masterful ability to crash the glass on both ends.
The Pistons will eventually return to the playoffs in coms capacity on the back of Cunningham and whomever they take in the draft this year. That shouldn’t obscure the fact that Barnes’ numbers as the fifth scoring option on a playoff team can be viewed as more impressive than what Cunningham has done.