3 Things Raptors fans should be excited about in 2023-24 season

1. Scottie Barnes

It’s hard to understate the magnitude of what this season will mean for the Barnes-Raptors partnership. To whom much is given, much is expected. With all the support around Barnes this season, tangible improvement as a scorer and leader needs to happen under Rajakovic.

Barnes took steps forward as a passer and defender last season, so much so that it wouldn’t be insane for him to begin the season as the starting point guard. However, his points per game were exactly the same, and his 3-point percentage was widely derided for going down in his sophomore season.

Scottie Barnes could be the future of the Toronto Raptors.

Barnes should try to shoot close to 35% from 3-point range while averaging around six assists per game. Checking those two boxes would help prove that he can shoulder a bigger load. In turn, fans will get to see more of the ever-so-tantalizing ceiling he has teased.

At his best, Barnes is a two-way dynamo who can rip the rim off the backboard, flex his muscles as a dominant mid-range player, and defend multiple positions. Time will tell if Rajakovic can put him on a smooth path to success easier than the often bombastic Nurse.