Ranking the best fits for Raptors backup point guard role

1. Scottie Barnes

With limitless offensive potential and the defensive versatility that the Raptors could get from throwing Banton out there, Toronto seems willing to lean into the Barnes at point guard experiment more this season. Barnes had limited success in that role last season.

While Barnes was billed as a ball-handler because that was the role he played at Florida State, he made his mark as a skilled interior finisher during his rookie season. If his jumper is clicking and he’s a step faster this season, using him to run point could help the Raptors bludgeon their foes with oversized bench lineups.

Scottie Barnes could unlock the Toronto Raptors’ offense.

The Rookie of the Year’s 3.5 assists per game were simultaneously impressive for a 20-year-old rookie and slightly inaccurate, as it didn’t show how he was an even more impressive passer than the numbers indicate. Both in terms of consistency and degree of difficulty, Barnes’ sharp passing will help him thrive as a primary conduit.

Barnes will eventually be given the keys to the kingdom when VanVleet and Pascal Siakam start to slightly take steps backward with age. While the Raptors drafted Barnes as high as they did due to how mouth-watering his forward skillset could be, using him as a guard would be a matchup nightmare for a decade.