Scottie Barnes among NBA's top young guns, but Raptors need to fully unleash him

Exactly how good is Scottie Barnes and precisely how high is a realistic ceiling for the face of the Raptors franchise?

Questions abound not only for the fifth-year player but also for the franchise, which began the season with an opening night win in Atlanta before going on a four-game losing streak.

A nine-game win streak would be forged, lifting the club to a lofty perch as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

A dose of reality was felt in the aftermath of a disappointing 1-4 homestand that was capped off by a lopsided loss to the New York Knicks, who handed Toronto its fourth straight setback as the Raptors slid back into the No. 5 slot in the conference.

While some questions won’t be properly addressed until later in the season, some lingering concerns may be made clearer when the Raptors resume their schedule Monday night in Miami against a good Heat team that tends to play its best in South Beach.

A sure sign of Barnes’ growth was evident when he was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference defensive player of the month for October-November, the first time a Raptor has been acknowledged since the award’s inception.

The early season stretch would see Barnes emerging as a defensive demon when it came to steals and blocks, two critical measuring sticks when revealing a player’s prowess on the defensive end.

With Brandon Ingram assuming more of an offensive role, the pressure was taken off Barnes, who helped kick-start Toronto’s surge in the standings.

Top-25 Players

Interestingly, ESPN has compiled a list of its top-25 players based on long-term potential who are under the age of 25.

Not surprisingly, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama is atop the talent list, a generational player who hasn’t even scratched the surface of his limitless ceiling.

Barnes, according to the website, is listed at No. 11.

Fellow 2021 draft classmates Cade Cunningham (No. 3) and Evan Mobley (No. 7) are ranked ahead of Barnes, while Jalen Suggs (No. 21) was taken one slot after Barnes in the draft with the fifth overall selection by the Orlando Magic.

As with any list, so much is based on subjective analysis, a lot based on personal agenda with the obvious goal of initiating a conversation.

There’s no doubt Barnes belongs in the top-whatever when it comes to potential.

If he continues on his current trajectory, his ranking in the NBA by any publication is certain to rise.

In Toronto, head coach Darko Rajakovic has gone out of his way of reminding anyone who would listen that Barnes will one day be the face of the league.

Naturally, he’s going to support his player, but the reality is that Barnes isn’t going to reach such a lofty status.

At the same time, Rajakovic believes Barnes is trending to be among the leading candidates to earn an all-NBA defensive team honour.

On that front, there’s a possibility.

An Increased Profile

In the NBA, individual acclaim is often a function of team success.

By extension, as long as the Raptors are able to post wins their profile will only increase and with it additional attention placed on individual players.

It’s why Toronto’s loss to the Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinal was so painful.

A win would have advanced the Raptors to the Cup’s semifinal in Las Vegas and a matchup with the Orlando Magic, a team loaded with young talent.

Out west, the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, whose roster is also dotted with high-end young talent, will tip off against Wemby’s Spurs in the semifinal.

Wembanyama has been dealing with a left calf sprain that has kept him out of the lineup since Nov. 14.

Heading into Saturday night’s late tip, the Spurs announced their big man will be available, but Wemby will be on a minutes restriction.

In a loaded West, the Spurs’ best days are in front of them with a healthy Wemby and the likes of emerging talents in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

The same can be said of Orlando, a franchise that has drafted well and made the right move in acquiring Desmond Bane this past off-season.

Young talent mixed in with the right veterans have allowed the Detroit Pistons to climb to the top of the Eastern standings.

Cunningham has come of age, while Jalen Duren has been an anchor in the middle, one of the best feel-good stories in the NBA who is making a compelling case to be an all-star this season.

Defensive Ferocity

Keep in mind Duren is among four players in league history to score 2,500 points and record 2,000 rebounds before turning 22.

Barnes is somewhere in the middle when breaking down Cunningham’s offensive skills and Duren’s ferocity on the glass and in the paint.

More than anything, Barnes needs to continue his evolution because he’s nowhere near a finished product.

If anything, the Raptors’ young talent base needs to step up, a group featuring a mixed bag of underachievers embodied in Gradey Dick and an encouraging rookie in Collin Murray-Boyles.

Regardless of what the Raptors’ inexperienced unit is able to bring to the table, Barnes’ role is indisputable.

He’s been good with moments of being elite, but there’s no reason why Barnes can’t be a presence on both ends of the floor each night.

Ingram is being asked to handle the ball and make plays in late-game moments, which is the right call given his versatility and ability to attract extra defenders.

Barnes is no slouch.

The Raptors haven’t forgotten Barnes on offence, but he should be used more often.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com