"If Scottie Barnes becomes a reliable 3-point shooter like he seems on his way to doing, and his defense remains as impressive as it has been to start the season, will there suddenly be an argument that Barnes is the most versatile player in the NBA? Think about it; Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the game, but has never been a switchable defender."
"But Barnes, at the very least, has the tools to put his name in this conversation, and those tools are translating more directly to results right now than ever before. We know he can be a 20-plus point scorer, I don't see any reason why he can't average over 8 rebounds per game, and the playmaking gets a little better every year. When this Raptors team finally clicks, it might be Scottie's playmaking that allows the click to happen."
Scottie Barnes appears poised to combine developing consistent three-point shooting with elite defense, creating unprecedented positional flexibility. He projects as a 20-plus point scorer who can average over eight rebounds while improving playmaking each year. Past development showed trade-offs between skills, but in 2025-26 his traits align in synchrony across scoring, defense, rebounding, and playmaking. High versatility and portability metrics (92nd percentile in both) suggest effectiveness alongside varied teammates. With a more talented supporting roster than since 2022-23, Barnes' all-around game could elevate him into conversations about the league's most versatile players and enable deeper team success.
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