Raptors sign first-round pick Barnes

Photo courtesy of Michelle Farsi, NBAE, Getty Images

 

Article by Eduardo Harari

Sports Editor La Portada Canada, Spanglish World Networks, Spanglish Sports World

 

TORONTO. - The Toronto Raptors announced the signing of their first-round pick Scottie Barnes to a rookie-scale contract.

 

The 20 year old forward will be under contract with the Raptors through the 2022-23 season and 2 team option years to follow.

 

Barnes was the perfect fit for a Seminoles program renowned for recruiting athletic specimens. He played a vital role on both ends of the floor in 2020-21 despite coming off the bench for most of the season.

 

The five-star recruit averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals to earn ACC Sixth Man of the Year honors and an All-ACC third-team selection.

 

"He challenges you defensively to try and be your best ... We have a defensive mindset where we're just willing to be dogs when we get out there on the floor," Barnes told reporters during his NBA draft combine media availability in June.

 

Bio

 

Position: F

School: Florida State

College experience: Freshman

Height: 6-foot-8

Weight: 225 lbs

Wingspan: 7-foot-3

Max vertical: 39.5 inches

 

Strengths

 

Capable of facilitating the offense; played point guard for Florida State

Has size, length, and frame to guard 1-5

Consistently high motor

Always crashing the offensive glass; ranked 19th in the ACC in offensive rebound percentage

Can initiate fast breaks off missed shots and turnovers

 

Weaknesses

 

Slow shot release

Lacks explosiveness to blow by defenders one-on-one

Minimal impact as a floor-spacer; shot 27.5% from deep last season

Struggles to create his own shot

Somewhat turnover-prone; tallied the sixth-most turnovers in the ACC in 2020-21