Forward Scottie Barnes sustained a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand in the second quarter of Friday’s loss to Golden State, the Raptors announced in a press release. He’s out indefinitely.
It’s a tough blow for the former Rookie of the Year, who is averaging career highs in every major statistic this season, including points (20.0), rebounds (8.3), assists (6.1), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.5) though 59 games. His shooting slash line in those contests was .474/.340/.781.
An All-Star for the first time in 2023/24, Barnes has assumed a larger role on both ends of the court for Toronto in 2023/24 after the team lost Fred VanVleet in free agency last summer and then decided to trade impending free agents Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby during the season.
Since the team is now built around Barnes, who was the fourth overall pick in 2020, it’s hard to say who will take on larger roles in his absence. Trade additions Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett seem like obvious candidates, but neither has Barnes’ size or unique skill set.
If the team elects to go with smaller wings, Gradey Dick, Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji could receive more run. If the Raptors want to go bigger, they could play Kelly Olynyk more minutes in the frontcourt alongside Jakob Poeltl.
At 22-38, the Raptors were already on the outside looking in of the postseason picture, currently trailing the Hawks by 4.5 games for the final spot in the East’s play-in tournament. With Barnes sidelined, their odds of making the playoffs — slim as they were — are all but eliminated.
Barnes, 22, will be eligible for a rookie scale extension in the offseason, and there’s a very good chance he’ll receive a maximum-salary offer from Toronto.
Man the move to get Poeltl is looking scary. The 1st that Ujiri gave to San Antonio is top 6 protected. That pick is projected at #7 right now. Bottom 5 teams are pretty set in stone. Only Memphis can bail them out.
They don’t really care because this draft sucks and they have other firsts. It’s why they were willing to give up one for Agbaji and Olynyk.
The new starting 5 was playing pretty well recently, though. Swap out GTJ for a higher caliber player and more development from Scottie/Quickly/RJ and they may have something. So it’s not like it’s a total loss with Poeltl signed long-term.
Steady Eddie Centres don’t fall of trees either. I’m happy w the trade.