The Toronto Raptors have made Scottie Barnes their star, but they are not building the roster to maximize his talents. The 23-year-old is a versatile 6’7 forward, but his shooting struggles and non-elite scoring make his supporting cast even more important. They keep adding talent, but Toronto doesn’t have enough shooting or cohesion to be a serious contender in a weak Eastern Conference.
The Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram and instantly signed him to a regrettable extension. It was the latest in a string of problematic moves that put Toronto in this position. They have a non-shooting five and two other questionable marksman in Ingram and Barrett. Toronto will lose the math game frequently, which will sink their contention dreams.
The Raptors are expensive, but not contenders. This is the worst place to be in the modern NBA. Masai Ujiri deserves plenty of blame, but the new front office must fix the situation. If not, Toronto will end up wasting Scottie Barnes’ prime on a lottery team.
Raptors have put Scottie Barnes in an impossible position to succeed
The franchise loves long wings with versatility. They are not worried about their jumpers or how the roster fits. They are just accumulating talent and hoping to make it work.
Immanuel Quickley needs to reach a new level to salvage this roster. Toronto overpaid him in restricted free agency, but the 26-year-old is just entering his prime. If he blossoms into an above-average starting point guard, it will help Barnes reach his ceiling and improve the team's contention odds.
The Raptors’ star is still years from his peak. He needs shooters around him to amplify his playmaking chops and must blossom as a scorer. Adding a 3-point shot or a deadly mid-range game is crucial if Barnes wants to be the best player on a winning roster. Neither will be easy, but the Raptors must make his life easier by putting a cohesive unit around him.
Toronto must take a step forward this season. If not, this roster needs blown up. The Raptors have a lot of talent, but none of it fits. They must find shooters to put around Scottie Barnes and create ways to unlock his offensive game. Barnes has to lock in on defense and become an elite two-way threat to reach his ceiling. If that happens, the Raptors will be back in contention.
The Toronto Raptors have put Scottie Barnes in an impossible position to succeed. Despite having multiple pieces of their core in place, the franchise is projected to be in the lottery.
To leap to title contention, they likely need Barnes to become their number two option, but reaching his ceiling will help Toronto convince a number one to come north of the border. That means building a roster that maximizes Barnes’ strengths.
That is easier said than done. It hasn’t happened yet and may never. It is why the Raptors feel trapped. Expect things to get worse before they improve, and the front office has nobody to blame but themselves.