"I want to give Scottie his flowers as well. It was his team for a long time. He was willing to sacrifice for the good of BI [Brandon Ingram] coming in, being himself, and look what he's done. He's still become an All-Star."
"Scottie Barnes was the Raptors' highest draft pick since they selected Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick in 2006. That alone put a lot of pressure on Barnes's shoulders. However, when he first joined the team, he was surrounded by veteran stars in Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Fred VanVleet."
"McGrady noted that Barnes had a solid case for Defensive Player of the Year. That is high praise from one of the best players to ever wear a Raptors jersey, and, if everything goes right for Barnes, he should eventually put his name into that very same conversation."
The Toronto Raptors have returned to the playoff picture for the first time since 2022, with Scottie Barnes playing a central role in their resurgence. Barnes, the Raptors' highest draft pick since 2006, has demonstrated exceptional two-way play despite significant roster changes. After initially playing alongside veteran stars Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Fred VanVleet, Barnes adapted when those players were traded away. The team subsequently acquired RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Brandon Ingram. Vince Carter, a Raptors great, praised Barnes for sacrificing touches to accommodate Ingram while maintaining All-Star caliber performance. Tracy McGrady suggested Barnes has a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year, indicating Barnes is on a trajectory toward Raptors greatness.
Read at Raptors Rapture
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