If the Kawhi Leonard trade eventually goes through, it presents Scottie Barnes with a massive opportunity to take the next step in his development. When you think about Barnes, he checks all the boxes for what a team looks for in a franchise player: elite two-way ability, high IQ, great playmaker, improving outside shot, and a desire to win.
The one box he hasn’t checked is that he lacks the killer mentality on offense that all No. 1 options in the league have.Â
When you think of stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic, what makes them so special in the postseason is when things get tight, they’ll take their team home. Whether their team is down or up when they need that boost, those top guys put their heads down and do whatever they can to carry their team to the finish line. Barnes has yet to take the step to being that guy, but the Leonard trade could force that inevitable next step.
The expectation when acquiring a player like Kawhi Leonard, especially at 35 years old, is that he’s going to miss a significant portion of the regular season. This makes Barnes's step as an aggressive scorer for Toronto a key to a successful regular season and a favorable playoff position.
Scottie Barnes can follow a similar path to Pascal Siakam in 2019
Going back to the 2019 championship run, obviously, the biggest storyline was Leonard putting the backpack on in the postseason en route to a championship. But one of the things that sneaks through the cracks and gets forgotten sometimes is that, with Leonard playing only 60 games, the Raptors had to rely on others to step up.Â
The most notable was Pascal Siakam, who really emerged as a transcendent young talent that season, winning the league's Most Improved Player award. Siakam's breakout really picked up in games when Leonard was out, and the Raptors need someone to stand next to Kyle Lowry and win games. The other guy who really stepped up was Fred VanVleet, and between him and Siakam breaking out, they helped lay the foundation for several successful seasons after Leonard left.
This is the formula Barnes needs to follow. Take the opportunity that is given in the non-Leonard games to show that he really is a franchise player by being an aggressive scorer first forward.
Sure, some people would suggest that Barnes taking that leap isn’t necessary, and seeing someone like Immanuel Quickley or RJ Barrett take that leap would be more beneficial. Which is a fair take, but think about it: if Barnes demands the ball more and looks to score more when Leonard is in the lineup, it would make Toronto so much harder to scheme against. In general, having a forward pair of Barnes and Leonard will be tough enough on opposing defenses. However, if both guys have that 1A killer mentality, there may be no stopping them.
Another benefit of a Barnes breakout is that it could extend Toronto’s championship window with Leonard. Given his age, it is likely the Raptors get one, maybe if they’re lucky two years, but if Barnes can take a leap into being a No. 1 that’ll inevitably extend their window. The transition from Leonard as the No. 1, to Barnes as the No. 2 could be the key to the Raptors hanging another banner over the next several seasons.
Raptors fans have been begging to see Barnes be more aggressive, and the Leonard trade has created a path that will likely force him into being exactly that.
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