Ahead Scottie Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand within the second quarter of Friday’s loss to Golden State, the Raptors introduced in a press launch, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He’s out indefinitely.
It’s a troublesome blow for the previous Rookie of the 12 months, who’s averaging profession highs in each main statistic this season, together with factors (20.0), rebounds (8.3), assists (6.1), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.5) although 59 video games. His taking pictures slash line in these contests was .474/.340/.781.
An All-Star for the primary time in 2023-24, Barnes has assumed a bigger function on each ends of the courtroom for Toronto in 2023-24 after the crew misplaced Fred VanVleet in free company final summer time after which determined to commerce impending free brokers Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby in the course of the season.
Because the crew is now constructed round Barnes, who was the fourth general decide in 2020, it’s onerous to say who will tackle bigger roles in his absence. Commerce additions Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett look like apparent candidates, however neither has Barnes’ dimension or distinctive ability set.
If the crew elects to go along with smaller wings, Gradey Dick, Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji may obtain extra run. If the Raptors wish to go greater, they might play Kelly Olynyk extra minutes within the frontcourt alongside Jakob Poeltl.
At 22-38, the Raptors had been already on the skin wanting in of the postseason image, at the moment trailing the Hawks by 4.5 video games for the ultimate spot within the East’s play-in match. With Barnes sidelined, their odds of creating the playoffs — slim as they had been — are all however eradicated.
Barnes, 22, shall be eligible for a rookie scale extension within the offseason, and there’s an excellent likelihood he’ll obtain a maximum-salary supply from Toronto.
