Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors

Next to Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes is right there in the early season Rookie of the Year race. Shocking many and taking Barnes over the likes of Jalen Suggs fourth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Masai Ujiri knew what he was doing and the Raptors have seemed to find a stud in their frontcourt. 

While he did not play much at Florida State in his freshman season, Scottie Barnes entered the league as a lengthy, athletic and versatile “point-forward” type of player, similar to the type of mold the Raptors have drafted/looked for in forwards over the years. 

They struck gold with Pascal Siakam back in 2016, then they found a lot of value again with OG Anunoby in 2017 and now in 2021, they have a young star in the making in Scottie Barnes. He has missed some time early on this season due to a thumb injury, but in 14 games with the Raptors, Barnes has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and has shot 50.8% from the floor. 

Currently leading all rookies in scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounds and field goal percentage (min. 300 minutes played), Scottie Barnes is the epitome of a “do-it-all” player in Nick Nurse’s system up in Toronto. 

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Now with Pascal Siakam healthy, it is going to be interesting to see if Scottie Barnes remains in the Raptors starting lineup and if his minutes get cut a little bit, but overall, he is the complete package for the Raptors.

Starting him next to the likes of Anunoby and Siakam could make the Raptors a very tough team to guard and as he continues to play, Scottie Barnes is only going to get better on both ends of the floor.