3 Raptors who could be first-time All-Stars in 2022-23 season

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 26: OG Anunoby #3 and Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 26: OG Anunoby #3 and Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
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Toronto Raptors, Scottie Barnes
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 24: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

1. Scottie Barnes

The next few years of Raptors basketball will hinge around Barnes and his ability to build off a rookie year that was better than anyone could have expected. Winning Rookie of the Year should be used as a springboard from which Barnes goes about taking over the Atlantic division.

Barnes is fresh off averaging 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game despite lacking a reliable 3-point shot and going through the trials and tribulations we often see from rookies. If the Rico Hines offseason work continues to make him even better, Barnes could hit a new level as a scorer.

Scottie Barnes is vital to the Toronto Raptors.

As hinted before with Anunoby and Trent, the Raptors need to figure out how to make sure veterans like VanVleet and Siakam are able to least this team while trying to sustain the success of their young trio. Deferring to Barnes may be difficult initially, but the Raptors will eventually need Scottie to take 20 shots a game.

The Raptors have caught lightning in a bottle with high draft picks in the past, but they failed to give them the proper infrastructure to build a winning legacy in Toronto. With Nurse in place and an army of role players around him, the stage is set for the electric youngster to dominate.