Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes is the key to unlocking championship potential

Scottie Barnes is the key to the Toronto Raptors unlocking their championship potential next season. 

Roughly 30 games into the 2021-22 NBA season, the Toronto Raptors were 14-17 and were ranked 11th in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff chances didn’t appear great and looked very much like a team that had just lost the heart and soul of the team (Kyle Lowry, via free agency) just a few months prior.

Nevertheless, after that uneven start to the season, the Raptors would go on to go 34-17 the rest of the season and finished 5th in the Eastern Conference as they proceeded into the playoffs.

Though, injuries took a toll on the Raptors once they got to the playoffs and they fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in five games in the first round. Nevertheless, heading into 2022-23, there is great optimism surrounding the Raptors.

And a big reason why is Scottie Barnes, who emerged as a budding star after an accomplished rookie season. En route to winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, Barnes averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 49 percent shooting from the field. And it became quickly clear that he was just getting started.

Heading into his sophomore season, the 21-year-old has some big expectations ahead of him. Not only are many expecting him to make another jump in his progression, but he’s also expected to make the jump to stardom.

And the Raptors, as a team, will also be looking to take a step forward and perhaps make the jump as a legit contender in the East. If they manage to do that, it will likely be on the back of Barnes.

He’s the only player on the roster with superstar potential and while it would be unfair to expect Barnes to make that jump during just his second season in the league, if he could it would absolutely make Toronto a championship contender.

The Raptors are just missing that superstar talent. Toronto has one of the deepest rosters in the league and if they can add an internal superstar, there’s no question they would quickly become a problem in the East.

Adding even more hype to the Barnes train is the fact that it’s been reported that the Raptors refuse to include him in any offer for Kevin Durant. And that makes sense and is probably the right move 100 percent, even if adding Durant would open a 2-3 year championship window for the Raptors now.

But Barnes’ potential is something that Toronto can’t punt on right now. Not yet.

He’s a special talent and has unlimited potential. He has a sky-high ceiling and we haven’t even seen Barnes scratch the surface of the player that he can be.

The Raptors may be a sleeping giant in the East next season. The question is, will Barnes unlock the team’s ultimate championship potential?