Second-year Raptors forward Scottie Barnes faces a critical summer following some minor regression in 2022/23, writes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. According to Lewenberg, there was a sense within the organization that Barnes, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, “could have worked harder and smarter” last offseason.
“I put my highest expectations on myself. I put a lot of [thought] into what I really want to become, what I really want to be,” Barnes said last week. “That’s how I look at things, how I see myself as a player. I know how I want to get better. I just want to consistently try to develop in each and every way and make it to the top of the league, be one of those better players in the league. It’s just going to take a different level of mindset, of work.”
This season, the 6’9″ forward out of Florida State averaged 15.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.1 SPG and 0.8 BPG across 77 games with the 41-41 Raptors.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Young Knicks role players RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes will have to contribute more in the ongoing playoff series against the Cavaliers if the team hopes to advance, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Braziller notes that Quickley, who has enjoyed a breakout 2022/23 season and was the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, has been passive in the team’s first two playoff contests, and has logged as many made field goals as he has turnovers (four apiece). Barrett’s shooting and passing have been lackluster, while Grimes has struggled to score.
- Despite wowing audiences in Utah en route to a Slam Dunk Contest championship in February, two-way Sixers point guard Mac McClung continues to work toward becoming an NBA rotation player, writes Howard Beck of GQ. McClung spent most of his time this year as the starter for Philadelphia’s NBAGL affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. A scout tells Beck that, while McClung is a terrific athlete, he needs to refine his on-court skillset. “The cerebral aspects of the game are way more important,” the scout said. “He’s proven people wrong every step of the way… but I’d say he’s got a hill to climb.” In his 31 games for Delaware this season, McClung averaged 19.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, 2.7 RPG and 0.8 SPG.
- Nets forward Mikal Bridges thrived with the Suns during his first few NBA seasons, but has taken on a major role as Brooklyn’s scorer since Phoenix flipped him as part of its blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. Though Bridges didn’t plan on such an outsized role on offense, he has embraced it so far, writes James Herbert of CBS Sports. “I’m not overcomplicating nothing,” Bridges said. “I didn’t drink nothing different, I didn’t eat nothing different, I didn’t change nothing. I just kept getting better and kept working. And I think that’s what people try to overthink. All you gotta do is just get better.” The 6’6″ swingman out of Villanova logged 26.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG and 0.6 BPG in 27 contests for his new club this season.
Bridges would work wonders for Atlanta.
Nets will be taking all kinds of offers on him this summer no doubt.
Lol, there’s no shot they trade him unless they receive some outlandish offer. Nice try tho
Scottie’s a good kid, he’ll bounce back.
Won’t you, Scottie?
Scottie needs to go the DeRozan route. Tirelessly working on your offensive skills, namely handles and shooting.
I actually agree with 1/3rd of what Braziller wrote; his statement as to Barrett vs the other two. Grimes and IQ have different roles, and while anyone can step up, the platform is not there for either of those guys to compensate for Brunson and Randle being compromised.
Barrett does have that. I’ve always liked RJ. Even if I didn’t like the early extension, I always supported him as a core building block for the team. His age, his BB IQ, his heart/ work ethic and the number of things he does make it hard to be too critical of him, and I’m certainly not giving up on him. But its fair to say that he hasn’t had the year he wanted to have, and his fans are still waiting for him to make a jump toward being the “star” player he’s indicated he wants to be. Even the clutch gene he’s flashed in other seasons has abandoned him at crucial times this year. The playoffs are a second chance, particularly with Randle and Brunson still haking off the effects of injuries and rust. He’s been (of all things) reticent. Not RJ like at all. Turn it.