Why Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes is a viable Rookie of the Year award candidate.
The 2021 rookie class coming into this season is phenomenal. From a mixture of future all-stars to valuable talent, we will see a few first-year players be able to shine in their respective teams. Through the summer league, fans were able to catch glimpses of some of the top prospects in the draft. But once the season begins, it will determine who’s the top players of the class.
There’s one player that I suspect will win the Rookie of the Year award this season. No, I do not expect it to be either Cade Cunningham or Jalen Green, but indeed Scottie Barnes. Barnes doesn’t stand out as the high electric player that other prospects in his draft class. But being a part of the Toronto Raptors will allow Barnes to grow into a leader at the professional level.
From Montverde Academy to the NBA, Barnes has been known as a hard worker. During practices, he always sets the tone with the energy he brings to the floor. It’s safe to say that his leadership has rubbed off on his teammates in both High School and College. Montverde Academy has become arguably one of the best teams in high school history while Florida State was amongst one of the top teams in the ACC this past season.
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Like I said earlier, Barnes isn’t an electric scorer compared to the others in his draft class. His perimeter shooting is still an issue as he continues to develop consistency from range. But Barnes’ ability to run the offense and distribute, alongside guard all five positions on the floor, gives his team momentum when he brings a lot of energy.
Barnes being placed on the Raptors brings diversity to the team. Why? Because there is a mixture of both dynamic scorers and team players on this team. Barnes’ job on the offensive end will be the initiating point forward. Expect Nick Nurse to allow him to be the primary ball-handler as he distributes to other teammates. Due to Barnes’ versatility, he has an opportunity to create opportunities for Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, etc. With the departure of Raptors legend Kyle Lowry in the offseason, Barnes fills in his role as a playmaker that allows others to flourish on offense.
Not only will Barnes be a terrific playmaker, but he will be the best rookie defender in this upcoming season. During his season at Florida State, you realize that he loves to compete on defense more than offense. Getting a stop on that end of the floor fuels Barnes and he will be placed alongside other great defenders in OG Anuboby and others. The Raptors were ranked in the top two in defense in two of the last three seasons. With Barnes bringing his defensive impact, he can provide a huge change in the Raptors being a scary defensive team again.
Just because I predict Barnes to walk away with the Rookie trophy, doesn’t mean it is going to be an easy task. Other rookies will be shining for their teams as well. But what can separate Barnes from the rest of his class is if he helps the Raptors return to the playoffs. Last season was a disappointment for Toronto.
With injuries and lineup changes, the team wasn’t in a position to contend in the East. Barnes can change that drastically through the course of the season. If he becomes a big reason behind their regular-season success, he can stand out amongst the rest of his class with a postseason appearance.
Toronto can be a destination for Barnes to build his legacy from his rookie season through the rest of his career. Just think of how other stars blossomed into future Hall of Famers after being drafted by Toronto. The front office can spot talent from a mile away and it wasn’t a mistake to draft Barnes with the fourth pick.
Barnes hast the opportunity to grow with this city and one day become the franchise cornerstone for the team. His tremendous work ethic and curiosity will allow him to keep developing moving forward.