Even as the Toronto Raptors make some big moves to bring in names like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, the one constant on this team is that sensational third-year forward Scottie Barnes will be front and center in both the team's on-court attack and their long-term planning.
Barnes has taken a gigantic jump in quality from Year 2 to Year 3. While some of that can be attested to Darko Rajakovic's offense playing at a faster pace than Nick Nurse's plan of attack, his own personal improvements on both sides of the ball need to be taken into account as well.
In a down year for the Raptors, where team accolades might be a bit difficult to come by, Barnes contending for the Most Improved Player Award might be the best chance Toronto has of actually getting some hardware this season. The rest of the league just needs to be as aware of Barnes' dominance as the rest of the Raptors' fanbase is.
Barnes' stock in the MIP race may have fallen a bit, but through no fault of his own. Scottie will need to stare down some competition from players in his own draft class and division rivals alike if he is to overcome the odds and follow a Rookie of the Year win with a MIP trophy to go next to it on his mantlepiece.
NBA Most Improved Player Power Rankings: Can Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes win?
6. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers
While Sharpe is not going to win this award due to both Portland's poor record and the fact that his stats have taken a slight dip recently, the fact he's gone from a perfectly average bench guard to a respectable scorer and shooter in one year deserves attention from the league.
Sharpe is averaging over 16 points and five rebounds per game despite playing on a bad Blazers team trying to get him, Scoot Henderson, and Anfernee Simons shots at once. With a better structure around him, Sharpe might be able to reach the limitless ceiling he has in front of him.
Will Scottie Barnes beat Tyrese Haliburton in MIP race?
5. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Haliburton is the talk of the NBA town lately, as his gaudy assist numbers and eye-popping scoring have the Pacers firmly established as one of the most exciting teams in the league. Even compared to last year, Haliburton is operating on an entirely different level.
Haliburton is averaging 24.7 points and a ridiculous 12.7 assists per game this year. The only thing that could prevent the Eastern Conference Player of the Week from winning this award is the fact his 2022-23 season was so impressive that voters won't consider what he did this season enough of a meaningful step forward.
4. Coby White, Chicago Bulls
The perpetual Raptors trade target appears to have finally put all the jigsaw pieces together, as the efficient offensive production we are seeing from the former North Carolina standout and Top 10 pick is exactly what Chicago thought they were getting all along. White is setting himself up for a big payday.
White pumped up his scoring per game from 9.7 last year to 17.7 this season, all while setting new career-best marks in efficiency both inside and outside the arc. Like Barnes, White is in a situation where his own team's poor record might be what ends up ruining his charge at the MIP.
Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes could win Most Improved Player in 2023.
3. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Barnes' impact on his team might be as great as anyone on this list, and that could end up being what swings some voters over to his side of the aisle. If that doesn't work, perhaps a quick glance at his statistics would be enough to get voters swooning over him again.
Barnes is averaging 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game despite having to split responsibilities with Pascal Siakam often and playing on a roster that lacked spacing before the OG Anunoby trade. Barnes should at least get some extra votes for the degree of difficulty as he takes hold of a new-look team.
2. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
On a team with names like Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith, Sengun has been the team's most impactful player. Ime Udoka has turned the former No. 16 pick into a player who is so valuable that he has become the primary offensive option for a much better Rockets team.
21.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game give Sengun almost identical production to Barnes, but he is doing so on a better Rockets team. It seems almost impossible for Sengun to miss the Al-Star game this season, and that could be enough to push him firmly into second place.
Tyrese Maxey is the Most Improved Player favorite over Scottie Barnes.
1. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Maxey is clearly the frontrunner for the MIP this year, as what he has done in his first season under Nick Nurse has been profoundly impressing. Unless something shocking happens that forces his production to crater, Maxey will likely prevent Barnes and others from winning this award.
Maxey is averaging 26.1 points and 6.5 assists per game, becoming the clear No. 2 option for a contending 76ers team fresh off trading away James Harden. The Raptors know that Maxey is only going to get stronger as the season goes on, so Barnes might get shut out.