Scottie Barnes is just an excellent prospect with outstanding upside – relying on if he’s utilized accurately. We’ll be taking a look at his Florida State movie and a few clips from Summer time League to assist showcase what sort of participant Raptors followers can anticipate going ahead, and the way finest to maximise his potential. I initially coated Barnes as one in every of my favorite prospects to have a look at when focusing on gamers for the seventh choose. Humorous how issues work out. Wanting again at that article, I also needs to point out how a lot my checklist of most popular prospects modified main as much as draft night time. Keon Johnson? Yuck.
Evidently, July twenty ninth was a shocking day for many Raptors followers and draft fanatics normally. You’re mendacity should you have been following the draft intently and anticipated to begin the season with anybody not named Jalen Suggs. With that preliminary shock behind us, and having seen the 4th total choose placed on a present in Summer time League, it’s secure to say that we are able to begin wanting in direction of the way forward for the Raptors which is able to little question be highlighted by a sure Florida State alum.
You’re aware of my scouting reviews by now – we’ll consider offence, defence, areas of enchancment, and the general match of the participant on the crew. I do know you’re all getting somewhat stressed ready for the season to begin, so what higher approach to fulfill that basketball itch than some Scottie Barnes content material?
Scottie Barnes | 20 y/o | PG/PF | 6’9 | Florida State | Archetype: Level Ahead/Large Playmaker
Courtesy of tankathon.com
Offence
The entire reasoning behind drafting a participant like Scottie is you’re getting a 6’8-6’9 participant who can play the position of some extent guard. In a league trending in direction of size and having non-traditional playmakers on the ground, Barnes matches the mildew to a T.
He’s nice in transition, each because the initiator and the finisher. He retains his head up and has some correct reads.
He’s able to shifting the ball across the perimeter and his dimension lets him arrange a display.
He can use his lengthy legs to only utterly separate himself from everybody else, and his athleticism ought to enable for him to indicate off some nasty dunks.
He showcased some good publish strikes and turnarounds in Summer time League, wish to see that proceed.
Scottie in downhill is an absolute terror. His combo of energy and bulldozing skill of attending to the rim in opposition to a disrupted defence will show to be very problematic for some groups who can’t preserve him out of transition.
His utilization within the choose and roll at Florida State was additionally spectacular.
Offence is actually the realm of Scottie’s recreation that wants essentially the most TLC, however he has a superb basis to work with, particularly along with his playmaking prowess.
Defence
This part might be largely clips simply showcasing what Barnes can do. He’s a particular defensive prospect. Hustle, grit, energy, unimaginable bodily measurements, Scottie checks a lot of the bins that scouts search for.
I’ve at all times been extraordinarily vocal about Scottie’s defensive experience and the way he’s a prime 5 defender popping out of this draft.
Except for his huge body and lengthy arms, he is usually a pest who boasts unimaginable IQ on the subject of positioning and digging in in opposition to his defenders.
His skill to stick with his man is spectacular and may solely enhance in opposition to NBA competitors.
Not even mentioning his skill to choose the lane.
I’m not saying defensive participant of the yr potential or something, however Barnes and OG is about nearly as good of a younger defensive tandem as any crew may ask for. I don’t have many issues with Scottie defensively.
Enchancment Areas
Put bluntly, Scottie’s offence wants numerous work. Oren Weisfeld had a terrific article highlighting a few of Scottie’s weaknesses and match issues, however one factor specifically jumped out at me.
“Nick Nurse believes that his bounce shot just isn’t damaged, it simply wants some work, however many draft analysts are extra skeptical that it may be mounted.”
Mark me down as a type of draft analysts. Nick did spotlight this in his interview shortly after Barnes was drafted, stating that it was merely a number of mechanical points at play. Watching Barnes at Florida State, it’s arduous to agree with Nurse right here except Scottie magically managed to repair his jumper over the course of an offseason – a very unprecedented feat for a rookie. I do imagine that Scottie can develop his shot and grow to be a mid-high 30’s% shooter, however it’s going to take a number of years.
I believe the most important factor that jumps out about Scottie’s shot is how stiff and robotic it appears.
His toes are typically actually vast and he doesn’t get numerous raise or fluidity when he brings the ball up. That results in numerous inconsistency in his photographs, the place he can seem like an actual shooter throughout one play after which utterly airball the subsequent couple makes an attempt. Total, I believe consistency performs an element too. Scottie didn’t take many threes at Florida State, so he by no means acquired constant reps. His wonky launch absolutely didn’t assist with that.
Stiffness normally tends to be a reasonably large concern with Scottie. It’s apparent in his taking pictures kind, however even when he’s dribbling he doesn’t even have very a lot fluidity to any of his actions, and he’s simply straight up sluggish when transitioning into any kind of pull-up. Opposing gamers are going to be going underneath any kind of screens set for him.
He’s farther alongside than most gamers his dimension are typically, nevertheless it’s tough to foresee him changing into any kind of ISO creator barring some unprecedented developments.
Raptors Match
I received’t lie, the match is a bit bizarre. I’ve gone at size how I imagine Scottie’s finest developmental place is the purpose guard. He performed the purpose at Florida State and he believes he’s some extent guard going off his Instagram bio and quite a few interviews. He has the playmaking imaginative and prescient to suit that invoice, and can be a mismatch nightmare for 90% of the league. Scottie’s position appears to talk for itself. If Bobby and Masai really imagine what they are saying after they inform us that they need a positionless and versatile lineup, then it might make sense to put the 6’9 prospect with unimaginable playmaking imaginative and prescient in one of the best spot to run level. Does Nick Nurse envision him in that position? Will he slowly be introduced alongside versus being thrown into the hearth and allowed to make errors? Does Nurse plan to play him as extra of a Draymond-style playmaking ahead? In that case, how does that match subsequent to Pascal and OG? Will Scottie’s on-ball playmaking versatility lastly result in Fred shifting off-ball? It’s numerous questions. Ones I don’t have the solutions to proper now, however I’ll personally throw a match if Scottie isn’t given ample alternative at level guard. I’m already somewhat dissatisfied {that a} prime 5 choose is anticipated to return off the bench for probably his whole rookie season (as soon as Pascal will get again).
The long-term outlook will get a bit murkier. I don’t anticipate Scottie to dethrone any of the starters immediately, however I may simply see himself making a case for beginning at PG or one of many ahead spots earlier than the top of his rookie contract. By the point that occurs, Pascal and Fred might be 30 years previous and on the lookout for new offers – as each are left with 3 years left on their present contracts (truly 2 for Fred, as he has a participant possibility within the third remaining yr that he’ll greater than probably decline). OG is penciled in because the starter on the 3 for the foreseeable future, so I received’t even entertain any concepts the place he’s moved. I wouldn’t actually anticipate Scottie to be an actual possibility on the 5 both, exterior of possibly closing lineups.
If and when that day comes, I’d be curious to see what sort of roster gymnastics that Nurse and Masai make the most of with a purpose to finest work round Barnes. In any other case it might simply be a waste to have him proceed coming off the bench.
Conclusion
Scottie’s playmaking and defensive versatility will preserve him on the ground for what’s going to virtually actually be a protracted NBA profession. The most important question-mark lies along with his offensive recreation. The shot is clearly a big ability that should come alongside, however simply changing into a shooter received’t be sufficient. Scottie might want to develop his dribbling, total strikes on the perimeter, his reducing, slashing, something that may flip him into an on-ball menace. If he can handle that, then we may have a very distinctive participant on our arms. If he fails to develop these abilities, he’ll little question be a superb position participant, nevertheless it’s arduous to examine him contributing in a job bigger than that and not using a true offensive arsenal.
In the meanwhile, I’m very a lot wanting ahead to seeing how a prime 5 choose develops on the Raptors. I’m intrigued by Scottie’s long-term outlook, and curious if he can match the excessive expectations that Raptors brass and followers have set for him.
Tip Brendan Stewart
The Scottie Barnes Report originated on Raptors Republic.
