RealGM

A Swiss Army knife on the court, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes can do a bit of everything on both ends of the floor – and at a high level, too. On top of being named an All-Star for the first time in his career last season, Barnes also became just the fourth player ever to post a 19/8/6 stat line at 22 years old or younger, joining a prestigious list featuring Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson, two Hall-of-Famers and one player on his way to first-ballot Hall-of-Fame honors.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/ranking-the-top-30-small-forwards-for-the-2024-25-season/

Scottie is ranked #7 among small forwards in the league, trailing behind Tatum, Durant, LeBron, Kawhi, PG, and Butler, but ahead of players like DeRozan, Ingram, Franz, Mikal, and OG. Do you think this ranking is too high, too low, or about right?

After Durant and LeBron retire he'll get moved up. Kawhi, PG, and Butler are already showing signs of decline while Barnes should technically continue to improve. I could see him moving into the top 5 after next season and then being top 3 with the likes of Tatum, and another player who either comes into the league or develops like Brandon Miller.

Sounds about right.

gp2015 wrote:Sounds about right.

They have Barrett at 18th behind DDV, Cam Thomas, Simons, Vassell, Monk, Jalen Green, Reaves, and other questionable picks.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-ranking-top-30-shooting-guards-2024-25-season/

IQ is 24th behind several very questionable player like Giddey, Derrick and Coby White, and many others who he shouldn't be behind.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rankings-predictions-top-30-point-guards-2024-25/

These guys need to prove they are core pieces this year. It is crazy we signed Quickely for so much when he's perceived to be one of the worst starting PGs in the NBA

I don't think contracts should be evaluated on hoops hype rankings, but you already know that..

I’ll be honest I’m surprised he got ranked this high. I’m not sure what position Paolo is considered but surprised to not see his name ranked above. That aside I’d say it’s within the right range. Personally I’m taking Scottie over every name you questioned, he’s more versatile than any of them and is likely gonna be an improved scorer this season too.

PhilBlackson wrote:I’ll be honest I’m surprised he got ranked this high. I’m not sure what position Paolo is considered but surprised to not see his name ranked above. That aside I’d say it’s within the right range. Personally I’m taking Scottie over every name you questioned, he’s more versatile than any of them and is likely gonna be an improved scorer this season too.

Paulo will be a PF

Duffman100 wrote:

PhilBlackson wrote:I’ll be honest I’m surprised he got ranked this high. I’m not sure what position Paolo is considered but surprised to not see his name ranked above. That aside I’d say it’s within the right range. Personally I’m taking Scottie over every name you questioned, he’s more versatile than any of them and is likely gonna be an improved scorer this season too.

Paulo will be a PF

So ORL plays Franz at SF?! Idk why I always assumed it was opposite but ok that obviously makes sense.

Tatum at 1 is ridiculous. End of the bench on olympic squad for a reason.

PhilBlackson wrote:I’ll be honest I’m surprised he got ranked this high. I’m not sure what position Paolo is considered but surprised to not see his name ranked above. That aside I’d say it’s within the right range. Personally I’m taking Scottie over every name you questioned, he’s more versatile than any of them and is likely gonna be an improved scorer this season too.

I wouldn't even consider him a SF personally.

PhilBlackson wrote:

Duffman100 wrote:

PhilBlackson wrote:I’ll be honest I’m surprised he got ranked this high. I’m not sure what position Paolo is considered but surprised to not see his name ranked above. That aside I’d say it’s within the right range. Personally I’m taking Scottie over every name you questioned, he’s more versatile than any of them and is likely gonna be an improved scorer this season too.

Paulo will be a PF

So ORL plays Franz at SF?! Idk why I always assumed it was opposite but ok that obviously makes sense.

I think so? I dunno, these positions are probably a bit of an archaic way of looking at the modern NBA. At any given time, you could see Wagner or Paolo being the 3 or 4.

That's a pretty good list, actually (the SF one). It's hard to make those and get every spot right.

And I think there's a half decent chance that Scottie surpasses Butler and George in terms of overall effectiveness by the end of the year.

I think the other big risers by next year will be Brandon Miller and Jalen Johnson, both of whom could be top 10 SFs within a year or two. I'm surprised not to see Keegan Murray on the list though. I guess they'll list him as a PF?

As for the SG and PG lists? They're not as good. The SG one starts off alright with the first 6 and then just gets crazy. And the PG one is alright for the first half, but Quickley is definitely too low.

Barnes is not a PF?
Didn't people argue that Barnes and Siakam play the same position?

Defensively, I don't think he can guard SF due to him not able to turn his hip quick enough, and being more a free roam PF.
Offensively, he is more playing PF, and isn't penetrating from perimeter.

Duffman100 wrote:

PhilBlackson wrote:

Duffman100 wrote:
Paulo will be a PF

So ORL plays Franz at SF?! Idk why I always assumed it was opposite but ok that obviously makes sense.

I think so? I dunno, these positions are probably a bit of an archaic way of looking at the modern NBA. At any given time, you could see Wagner or Paolo being the 3 or 4.

Banchero is definitely the PF. Wagner plays SF and drive from the perimeter.

Thaddy wrote:

gp2015 wrote:Sounds about right.

They have Barrett at 18th behind DDV, Cam Thomas, Simons, Vassell, Monk, Jalen Green, Reaves, and other questionable picks.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-ranking-top-30-shooting-guards-2024-25-season/

IQ is 24th behind several very questionable player like Giddey, Derrick and Coby White, and many others who he shouldn't be behind.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rankings-predictions-top-30-point-guards-2024-25/

These guys need to prove they are core pieces this year. It is crazy we signed Quickely for so much when he's perceived to be one of the worst starting PGs in the NBA

Everyone listed ahead of him is being payed more, he's not overpaid, he's being paid market rate for his position.

This will be the first year that Barnes will be centre of attention on offense and the #1 option. Everything is going to go through him
He will struggle at times with this but there's no doubt he will get better and his numbers will go up.

Thaddy wrote:

gp2015 wrote:Sounds about right.

IQ is 24th behind several very questionable player like Giddey, Derrick and Coby White, and many others who he shouldn't be behind.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rankings-predictions-top-30-point-guards-2024-25/

These guys need to prove they are core pieces this year. It is crazy we signed Quickely for so much when he's perceived to be one of the worst starting PGs in the NBA

IQ is the 25th highest paid guard in the NBA and the cap is going to go up a lot in the next couple of years with the new media deal. Can we please get a hold of ourselves with the nonsense about his contract.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/player/_/year/2024/position/g/sort/cash_total

Barnes is a PF until he proves otherwise.

Duffman100 wrote:

PhilBlackson wrote:

Duffman100 wrote:
Paulo will be a PF

So ORL plays Franz at SF?! Idk why I always assumed it was opposite but ok that obviously makes sense.

I think so? I dunno, these positions are probably a bit of an archaic way of looking at the modern NBA. At any given time, you could see Wagner or Paolo being the 3 or 4.

I think the neat thing about this is seeing all the players above him. Other than Tatum, they are all super super well established players. Like KD is one of, if not the greatest pure scorer in NBA history, Kawhi is one of the greatest 2 way players in NBA history, and Lebron is 2nd in the GOAT convo. Then you take into account the age of these dudes, including PG and Jimmy, then you have Tatum, who just won a chip, and Scottie.

That's damn good company to be in. I'd be interested to see the rankings if they just combined the SF/PF into a forwards list, I suspect he's still be relatively high up there. But seeing a 23 year old held in such high regard is genuinely great to see.

Not sure if anyone saw the Vecenie podcast about the 24 best players under 24, they've got Scottie at #10 (top 9 hasn't been released yet) and Vecenie thinks that if Scottie can develop a mid range that is dependable, he's easily all NBA calibre. Stuff like this is why I'm so disproportionately high on him, the potential is absolutely there, he just needs to put stuff together.

For those interested it's 1:54:37 in.

Im positive Scottie is our starting power forward.

And fully expect this board to go crazy when he eventually becomes our main backup 5


But sure, 7th best sf

Rj’s our shooting guard

Hoops hype isn’t any kind of authority.

Solid ranking IMO. If he wants to move up, he'll have to prove it.