The Raptors are headed in the wrong direction, but Scottie Barnes gives them a star to rebuild the roster around, writes Michael Grange of SportsNet. Saturday’s home loss against Utah was Toronto’s third in a row and its 10th in the last 13 games, but Barnes continued to be outstanding, tying his career high with 32 points while collecting 14 rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
“He was rebounding the ball well. He passed the ball really well. He scored a lot of points in the first half,” coach Darko Rajakovic said. “… He just continues to improve and he’s making the next step there. I wish that all of us, we can help [him] more and you know, help the team win.”
Barnes is exceeding expectations in his third NBA season, Grange adds. He’s averaging career highs with 20.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and seems to have silenced any worries about his shooting, connecting at 48.9% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range.
The Raptors have several trade candidates as the Feb. 8 deadline approaches, with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby being the most prominent. Grange believes every personnel decision should be made with a focus on helping Barnes maximize his considerable talents.
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