Scottie Barnes has looked every bit the force Toronto needs in a lot of ways. The Raptors forward is piling up points, rebounds, assists, and steals while giving the team the kind of two-way impact that usually belongs in the superstar conversation. But one glaring problem is hanging over everything: the jumper is still dragging him back.
Through eight games, Barnes is averaging 23.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. Toronto has gone 4-4 in that stretch despite Kawhi Leonard’s early injury, and Barnes has done plenty to keep the offense afloat. The issue is that his perimeter shot has been brutal, with Barnes hitting just 15.4 percent from three and 68.0 percent from the free throw line.
The free throw number should be the easier fix. Barnes is a career 77.0 percent shooter at the line, so that part of the slump looks more like a rough patch than a permanent flaw.
The three-point problem is harder to wave away. His current form is only the latest version of a long-running issue, not some sudden detour.
Barnes is a career 29.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and while he did get to 34.1 percent in 2023-24, that was the only season in which he finished above 30.4 percent. He’s 25 years old, but he’s also in his sixth NBA season, and the shooting track record hasn’t given much reason to expect a clean breakthrough.
That matters because Toronto’s offense looks better when Barnes is off the floor. The Raptors are scoring 110.7 points per 100 possessions with him on the court, and among Toronto players with at least 150 minutes, only Jamal Shead has posted a worse offensive rating. When Barnes sits, the Raptors jump to a team-best 123.0 points per 100 possessions.
The spacing numbers tell the same story. Toronto is making 10.3 threes per 100 possessions with Barnes on the court and 12.3 without him.
The team is also getting 10.9 more free throw attempts per 100 possessions and averaging 3.0 more assists when he’s off the floor. Altogether, that helps explain why the Raptors are scoring 12.3 more points per 100 possessions without their franchise player in the game.
Barnes will probably settle in enough to finish the season shooting in the high 20s or low 30s from deep. But if Toronto wants him to become the superstar version of himself - and if the Raptors want to turn into a real playoff threat - he has to become someone defenses can’t ignore when he’s standing open. It’s not panic time yet, but the jump shot is still the roadblock.
In Other News...
Raptors Center Search Suddenly Has One Intriguing New Trade Target
Wendell Carter Jr. has quietly become one of the more interesting big men to watch around the league, and his season with the Orlando Magic has only sharpened that profile. For a Raptors team still sorting through its long-term answer in the middle, Carters blend of size, versatility and two-way usefulness makes him an easy name to circle when the conversation turns to possible upgrades.
The problem, as always, is getting from intrigue to reality. Toronto would have to navigate a tricky financial picture and the kind of salary-cap hurdles that can stall even a sensible idea before it gets off the ground, which is why this remains more of a future possibility than a live negotiation for now. Still, if the Magics direction changes or Toronto keeps looking for a center who fits multiple roles, Carters name is one that could linger on the Raptors radar. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Center Problem Could Put Nate Bittle In The Spotlight
Torontos center depth has become a real talking point, and Nate Bittle has surfaced as one of the more interesting names tied to it. Basketball analyst Sam Vecenie pointed to the two-way big man as a possible answer, which is notable given how much the Raptors have been looking for help in the middle. Bittles Summer League showing gave the idea some traction, with promising production across the board and enough rim protection to make him stand out.
The longer-term question is availability, because there is still no clear timetable for his return to play. That leaves the Raptors in a familiar holding pattern, weighing upside against uncertainty while trying to map out who can actually fill minutes at center. Bittles college background and his Summer League flashes make him worth watching, but for now the path from intriguing prospect to real rotation option remains unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face A Tough Allen Graves Decision As Ceiling Comes Into Focus
Without Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors have been forced to take a hard look at where they stand and what kind of move could actually lift the roster back into contention. One name that keeps surfacing is rookie forward Allen Graves, whose blend of value and upside makes him one of the few real assets Toronto could use to upgrade the starting lineup. The problem is that the front office is operating with limited ways to add first-round picks, which makes every possible path feel more expensive and more complicated.
Graves also represents the kind of decision teams hate most: the player you want to keep because he fits the long-term picture, and the player you may have to move because the present is demanding more. Toronto has to weigh its future draft flexibility against the need to improve now, especially with uncertainty hanging over what those future picks might actually become. The ceiling on this roster is becoming clearer, and so is the pressure to decide whether patience is still the right bet. [Read more 🡒]