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Hoopsworld: Harrison Barnes a Toronto Raptor?

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The NBA hasn’t held the draft lottery yet (May 30), but the Raptors are likely to be drafting in the 6-7 range after the ping pong balls work their magic. That being the case, UNC’s Harrison Barnes should be of great interest to the Raptors. They have the front court taken care of with Andrea Bargnani, Ed Davis, Amir Johnson, James Johnson, Linas Kleiza, Jonas Valanciunas and Solomon Alabi (team option) under contract for next season. They could use some depth behind DeMar DeRozan at shooting guard, but that’s more of a free agency issue. What they really need from their first round pick is a legit wing player to complement the rest of the roster, and there just happens to be a player fitting that profile in this year’s lottery.

UNC small forward Harrison Barnes is not a future Hall of Famer by any stretch of the imagination, and he is not the guy you build your franchise around. Fortunately, the Raptors don’t need a franchise player – they already have some solid candidates for that label in DeRozan and Bargnani, and possibly Valanciunas. What they need is a great intangibles guy who will make the defense pay for overlooking him, and that role fits Barnes to a tee.

Barnes may not be great, but he is very good in a lot of areas. On the offensive end, Barnes ranked in the 73rd percentile in transition, 65th in post-ups, 64th in isolation, 64th as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll, and 60th when coming off screens. He’s not much of a spot-up shooter and doesn’t cut to the basket for easy scores, but otherwise he does a lot of things well. The fact that Barnes is good in transition could help the Raptors address one of their biggest weaknesses on the season, as they ranked just 16th in the NBA in transition offense. He could also shore up their post-up game, where the Raptors were 19th in the league this season. Where Barnes struggles – the spot-up game – Toronto ranked 6th in the league this season, by far their nest offensive category, so that part of Barnes’ game wouldn’t be missed.

He’s not much of a defender, ranking in the 77th percentile when defending a pick-and-roll ball handler 64th in defending a spot-up shooter. Otherwise his rankings are pretty low, 42nd percentile and below across the board. That’s not ideal, but it’s not terrible either, as the Raptors have plenty of size in the paint to help clean up penetrating perimeter players.

Again, Barnes is not a franchise player who is ready to take the NBA by storm and make a franchise his own. He is, however, a great all-around player with strengths in a wide range of areas. He can step into a situation where a team already has some star players and be the James Harden, Jason Terry type of player who makes the stars more effective by filling in the gaps and torching an unsuspecting defense.

Don’t be surprised of the Raptors call Harrison Barnes’ number on draft night.

NBA@2: Harrison Barnes A Toronto Raptor? | HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Meh, I would have mixed emotions if we draft him

This article was written on the last day of the season, when it was a possibility of getting the 6th or 7th spot. For us, it's either 1-3, 8, or after. I don't think Barnes will be there at 8 - unless he has some BAD workouts, and I think 1-3 is too high to pick him. With those in mind, I doubt he ends up a Raptor, unless we make some draft-day moves.

at this point, I'd be ecstatic if Raps got Barnes.
The projected 8th pick isn't looking too good.

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Originally Posted by Kirby (Post 640329)

at this point, I'd be ecstatic if Raps got Barnes.
The projected 8th pick isn't looking too good.

I would take Marshall at 8 and be happy....especially if the team nabbed OJ Mayo for the SG spot so as to add another shooter/playmaker.

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Originally Posted by DocHoliday99 (Post 640340)

I would take Marshall at 8 and be happy....especially if the team nabbed OJ Mayo for the SG spot so as to add another shooter/playmaker.

doing that ain't easy doc

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Originally Posted by pzabby (Post 640362)

doing that ain't easy doc

I know, you're 1000% right.

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Fortunately, the Raptors don’t need a franchise player – they already have some solid candidates for that label in DeRozan and Bargnani, and possibly Valanciunas.

Hmmm, does anyone really believe any of them is a future franchise player? Valanciunas still remains to be seen, but it'll take years to see if that's in his future. As it stands now we don't have a game changer let alone a franchise player.

I don't see a franchise player as of yet, but one could arise out of a solid well-balanced team, which interests me more, and would insure better long term results.

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Originally Posted by DocHoliday99 (Post 640340)

I would take Marshall at 8 and be happy....especially if the team nabbed OJ Mayo for the SG spot so as to add another shooter/playmaker.

One thing is for sue. Barnes is a better pick at 8 then Marshall is.

I would be happy with Barnes, he's exactly what we need, aside from being a shooter and being named anthony davis.

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Originally Posted by LX (Post 640433)

I don't see a franchise player as of yet, but one could arise out of a solid well-balanced team, which interests me more, and would insure better long term results.

Ya plus if it still doesn't work out we would still have lots of assets to make a trade for a impact player like the clippers did for Chris Paul.

im not too thrilled about marshall, would love barnes though if we cant get beal

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Originally Posted by Windex (Post 640450)

One thing is for sue. Barnes is a better pick at 8 then Marshall is.

I do like Barnes...

If he ends up being Glen Rice... it's a great pick.

I remember back a summer ago scouts were comparing him to Kobe and Durant. :dead:

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Originally Posted by DonMughal (Post 640640)

I remember back a summer ago scouts were comparing him to Kobe and Durant. :dead:

LOl yep, certainly overhyped. I agree with JoJo though, solid pick if he turns out to be a Glen Rice type of player.

We don't actually know what Barnes might become. They even had concerns about whether LeBron could shoot coming into the league.

But there are going to be some busts in this draft. And T.O. cannot, I repeat, cannot end up with a bust. Raps drafted well, T-Mac left for nothing, then Hoffa set us back a good 2 years, ultimatley causing Vince to want out, getting us nothing in return, setting us back again followed by Bargnani's perpetual potential followed by Bosh leaving for nothing.

That's why the smart thing to do may be to look at a guy whose upside may be anywhere from a 6/10 to a 9/10 and try to swing a deal to obtain an 8/10 at a position you need. They need recxognized and understood talent.

Trade that pick!

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Harrison Barnes struggles to score off the dribble, a shortcoming that could have serious implications at the NBA level.

"No question he's a catch-and-shoot guy," said an Eastern Conference exec. "He's not a slasher. He's not a good finisher at the basket. Doesn't look all that athletic. But he's going to look good. I have to believe he'll be all of 6-8, NBA body, he can shoot the ball and would be a willing defender. He didn't have a great year, but I still don't think it's going to hurt him."

Barnes’ role fluctuated toward the end of his sophomore season at North Carolina.

"They took a guy who was essentially a jump shooter, and at the end of the year they have him putting the ball on the [bleeping] ground and driving,” said a Southeast Division talent evaluator. “Young fella, that's not what you do. What you do is knock down jumpers off two bounces, and off the catch."

Another talent evaluator believes Barnes will have to reassess his place in the game.

"I think he should be an adequate defender, but to be honest, he's got to get over the fact that he was the high school player of the year and the greatest thing going, and the fact that he's no longer that," said a Pacific Division scout. "I don't know where his head's at. But he's a quality kid. No reason he can't figure it out. When he came to college I expected someone who was ahead of Shane Battier at that developmental stage, and Shane's had a pretty good career ... I never saw Harrison Barnes as LeBron James or Kobe Bryant or Jerry Stackhouse. I just saw a nice, solid player."

NBA Talent Evaluators Believe Harrison Barnes Will Be Solid Pro - RealGM Wiretap

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"No question he's a catch-and-shoot guy," said an Eastern Conference exec. "He's not a slasher. He's not a good finisher at the basket. Doesn't look all that athletic."

Uh. Pass.