Before I get burned at the stake for what I'm about to say, let me reiterate that I am not here to bash Scottie Barnes' game or talent. I write for Raptors Rapture because I am a die-hard fan of the franchise, and it gives me a platform to express not only my assessments but also to spread the growing discourse within the fan community as a whole.
Now that I got that off my chest, let's get to the topic at hand.
It is now year four in the professional career of Scottie Barnes, whose tenure in Toronto thus far has included a Rookie of the Year award in 2022 and an NBA All-Star appearance in 2024 (albeit as an injury replacement, but an accolade nonetheless). After Toronto signaled the end of their previous era by parting ways with key forwards OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam last season, the keys to the Raptors' kingdom were handed entirely to Barnes.
After experiencing some stagnation between his rookie and sophomore seasons, as I mentioned earlier, Barnes broke out in his third year, delivering his best performance to date. He earned an All-Star selection and set new career highs in averages across seven different metrics.
So, how has Barnes’ fourth year been for him? Well, for starters, the Raptors aren’t faring well overall. Although they’ve been trading wins and losses lately, they currently find themselves in the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference. On the bright side, Barnes is still averaging nearly 20 points per game, pulling down rebounds, and distributing assists as usual. Additionally, he has made significant strides on the defensive end, which is a welcome development.
Now we get to the sad realities. For one, I think it's time for Raptors fans to take the hit on the chin and accept that a consistent three-point shot becoming an offensive weapon for Barnes is simply never going to materialize.
His three-point shot this year has taken a massive dip; despite showing huge promise last season at 34%, it’s now sitting at a measly 26%. I, for one, am always face-palming when he insists on shooting the three-ball. I understand that reps are key, but it's just not working for him. I'm glad that lately, Barnes isn't trying to be the 3-and-D wing that he is simply not.
In addition to that, the advanced numbers have shown that Barnes is struggling to coexist with one of the Raptors' young pieces for the future, Gradey Dick—a concerning statistic I already pointed out.
I think Barnes' ceiling for the Raptors is still sparking a lot of debate within the fanbase. As each year goes by, the expectation for SB to emerge as a superstar still lingers, but I believe he’s never going to live up to that hype.
And while that might sound pessimistic or imply that I'm not a believer in Barnes' game, as I said at the start, this isn't necessarily a bad thing or me trying to knock him down. I wrote a piece very early in the season where I mentioned that Barnes doesn't fit the typical NBA star archetype, but that it's completely fine.
Scottie Barnes is not meant to be a 'Superstar' for the Toronto Raptors
Facing the facts though, it can't just be this repetitive cycle of waiting for Barnes' offensive game to take off as the catalyst that skyrockets this Raptors squad to the promised land. The team's decision to go all-in for a proven scoring threat like Brandon Ingram proves that. The Raptors will soon be paying Barnes a historic amount of money, and despite his standout defense and playmaking ability, he simply is not the answer as the team's number one guy.
I get that Toronto is probably trying to tank in this final stretch, but even in some of these games against league-worst squads, on nights when Barnes is out there to play, he doesn’t look fluid enough in his offensive bag to dominate these mediocre teams. Try to sugarcoat that all you want, but that should be worrying nonetheless. If your highest-paid guy can't look like a superstar against teams like the Wizards or Trail Blazers, who will be the saving grace then?
That's a whole other issue in itself, but the truth about Barnes' trajectory with the Raptors moving forward is that he's a really good secondary or tertiary option on a contending team, not the first option by any stretch. When he tries to play as something he's not, he falters. But when he's in his element, playing a balanced and versatile game, that’s where Barnes shines.
Case in point: I believe we, as Raptors fans, set our expectations too high for Barnes when he entered the league. Those hopes were certainly justified at the time, but now time is flying by.
I still believe he is destined to be the complementary piece that helps hold the foundation together. I love the passion the Raptors community has for its players, which Masai Ujiri’s admiration for Barnes clearly reflects. Still, it may be time to accept him for what he is rather than cling to an unrealistic vision of the superstar he may not become.