Raptors Future: Is Scottie Barnes more Aaron Gordon or Giannis Antetokounmpo?

What's the Verdict?

Scottie Barnes has already been the best player on a team and made an All-Star Team, so the floor is extremely high for him. The question is whether the Toronto Raptors should build for him as their franchise superstar, or with him as a piece around a future star still to be found. Is he Giannis Antetokounmpo or Aaron Gordon?

The answer is likely somewhere in the middle, as it usually is. Barnes has already established a level of shot creation and efficiency on offense that Aaron Gordon never achieved with the Orlando Magic. At the same time, becoming a two-time MVP and Top-30 player all-time is a lofty expectation to set.

Scottie Barnes is already very good, and he should continue to get better. The Raptors need to give him the space to grow, because if he can develop into a Top-10 player in the NBA it completely changes their upside as a team. It's more likely he tops out a level below that, but he is so good already that you cannot take anything off of the table.

The Raptors once had a bona fide MVP candidate in Vince Carter. Chris Bosh was extremely good but never quite at that level. Kawhi Leonard was at that level, but one for one season (what a season, though). Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Pascal Siakam and even Damon Stoudamire were really good players who never sniffed the Top 10.

Scottie Barnes could be better than all of them, but he also could simply be just as good as them. The jury is still out, but his unique combination of offense and defense makes anything possible.