Official Scottie All Star Barnes Thread 9

[WaltFrazier]

Reading a piece on why Grizz should trade Morant and saw this but:

Since 2023, he’s made just 30.5 percent of his 3-pointers. To put that in context, there are 166 players who’ve attempted at least 600 of them over that span, and only Scottie Barnes has been worse

.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/04/28/nba/ja-morant-memphis-grizzlies-nba-trade-rumors-offseason

[TorontoBarneys]

Reading a piece on why Grizz should trade Morant and saw this but:

Since 2023, he’s made just 30.5 percent of his 3-pointers. To put that in context, there are 166 players who’ve attempted at least 600 of them over that span, and only Scottie Barnes has been worse

.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/04/28/nba/ja-morant-memphis-grizzlies-nba-trade-rumors-offseason

Scottie catching strays now.

[DreamTeam09]

I'd much rather IQ + RJ next to Barnes than just JA. I'd rather IQ at 35mill with pull up 3 ability next to Barnes n Ingram compared to JA at 50+mill with no 3

[ArthurVandelay]

For me, my biggest concern of him is his shot selection. I believe this is a relatively easy fix.

If he sticks to his strengths - turnaround mid range jumpers, post-ups, etc. - he can easily average over 20ppg on higher efficiency.

I've noticed when he starts the game w/ 2pt attempts, he has a higher probability of knocking down his 3pt attempts as the game goes on.

But there were several games where he would just start jacking up 3s right off the bat and then freeze himself out for the rest of the game.

Point being, he needs to start inside and work his way out.

20ppg on 55-60% TS is all I'm asking for from Scottie, because he's already a great defender and an improving playmaker.

My hope for him next year year is to give us at least 20ppg | 8rpg | 7apg - 48/35/80 splits

I agree with you it is a relatively easy fix.

Scottie and Darko have been very open about development, trying new things, etc. Scottie went through a phase this year where he was shooting 7/8 3s per game, iso/pull up/catch and shoot/off the dribble, in the flow out of the flow, it didn't matter, he let it fly with Darko's encouragement. Then there was a stretch where the focus was driving and creating as a PG (epic fail in the half court). Then towards the season you could see a focus on the midrange and the post.

Between comments off the court and the play on the court, Scottie's play has been deliberate and premeditated this year. There is no question in my mind next season we see a version of Scottie that maximizes the best parts of his game. What they did for RJ, they are going to do the same thing with Scottie. When wins aren't the priority, it gives a lot of leeway to mess around and try stuff.

[Indeed]

The bashing has been about how people claim how he's been used the last 2 seasons need to move backward (not forward) to his first 2 seasons where the damage were done against VanVleet and Siakam. We are still bashing Barrett on his defense and fit, and probably Ingram next year.

Barrett's defense has been better this year, though. I've seen a reasonable amount of compliments over that subject across the year. And he seems to fit fine, at least to me. Can hit the corner 3 on the right side, is a capable off-ball slasher. Has been passing really well. He struggles at the line, which is his main impediment and one worth considering because he's still not an efficient player (and certainly nothing like he was immediately after the trade), but there's some promise there. Enough to at least see how the season begins for him.

I'm sure Ingram will be the focus for a lot of chirping about his health, and likely about his efficiency, too. Folks eventually get grumbly once the baseline has been set and an impediment is located, I guess. I for one will try to be more mindful of this as we move forward through the Ingram era, however long that lasts. Crap seasons like this one do reshape your perspective as to what counts as a worthwhile season, hah!

I don't buy the defense from Barrett yet, not good at positioning and the defensive IQ isn't there, but his struggle at the line more feel like in a tanking season, where he (and the team) does not caring making them or not (not the part of the development, who care attitude afterall). I think free throw will eventually be respectable, while defense is still a concern, particularly his positioning (mental / IQ will hardly change, he will need to make up with his reaction, seems borderline average eventually).

As for Ingram, I rather pay Siakam without the injury risk, even not having the additional asset (or I think those are cheap to acquire anyway), but keeping Siakam means we won't have the chance to prove Barnes is not the top 3 options. People will continue to accuse not giving Barnes the ball.

[tsherkin]

I don't buy the defense from Barrett yet, not good at positioning and the defensive IQ isn't there, but his struggle at the line more feel like in a tanking season, where he (and the team) does not caring making them or not (not the part of the development, who care attitude afterall). I think free throw will eventually be respectable, while defense is still a concern, particularly his positioning (mental / IQ will hardly change, he will need to make up with his reaction, seems borderline average eventually).

I don't think there's much to buy. He isn't an All-D guy, but he has visibly improved. He still has flaws, but he's made strides.

For my part, I don't buy the idea that a tanking season had anything to do with Barrett's FT woes. He only shot 71.5% from the line last year, he's shot under 70% from the FT line once before. It could be a mix of variance/skill deficiency and injury as much as anything else. This is his second straight season under 60 GP, after all. Obviously, I hope he doesn't shoot 63% again next season, I expect he'll be back to around 70, 71%, and that should help some. He was okay-ish before the new year and then just flubbed it from January onward, though, so maybe you're right. Hopefully, it becomes irrelevant and he shoots like 75% next year.

As for Ingram, I rather pay Siakam without the injury risk, even not having the additional asset (or I think those are cheap to acquire anyway), but keeping Siakam means we won't have the chance to prove Barnes is not the top 3 options. People will continue to accuse not giving Barnes the ball.

Siakam is irrelevant now, though. I would love to have not traded Siakam, but that genie is out of the bottle, so it isn't worth worrying about anymore. Just trying to flip gears and be a little more positive over our prospects for next season at this point.

[dohboy_24]

What kind of leap/progress would you like to see Scottie make next year?

Do you think he can make the All-Defense or All-NBA team next year? What about the ASG - do you think he will be voted in by the fans or coaches/media?

[MEDIC]

What kind of leap/progress would you like to see Scottie make next year?

Do you think he can make the All-Defense or All-NBA team next year? What about the ASG - do you think he will be voted in by the fans or coaches/media?

I think his goal should be to make an all defensive team. That would be a better and bigger accomplishment than Allstar.

[tsherkin]

What kind of leap/progress would you like to see Scottie make next year?

Do you think he can make the All-Defense or All-NBA team next year? What about the ASG - do you think he will be voted in by the fans or coaches/media?

Would love for us to use him more appropriately so he can be a little higher-impact on O and a little less on-ball. Would LOVE for him to earn an All-D Team appearance. Don't really care about the ASG.

I'm very interested to see how he plays alongside BI.

[WuTang_CMB]

Watch on YouTube

[OakleyDokely]

I think he's going to look a lot better alongside a natural scorer like Ingram on the court. He's going to be able to do more of what he excels at -- defending, playmaking, bully ball in the post and transition buckets. He will be able to exploit more mismatches instead of facing the other teams best defensive wing.

[tsherkin]

I think he's going to look a lot better alongside a natural scorer like Ingram on the court. He's going to be able to do more of what he excels at -- defending, playmaking, bully ball in the post and transition buckets. He will be able to exploit more mismatches instead of facing the other teams best defensive wing.

I think that he'll generally look better as he shoots less, which yeah, having Quick and BI and RJ around for most of the season should enable. Scottie's not a guy for whom scoring is his jam. It wasn't his thing pre-draft and he hasn't really shown much to indicate that's changing. Which is fine, because if our guys are healthy, then we don't really need that from him. And he IS a very good defender, a pretty decent playmaker and a quality wing rebounder. Or I guess maybe a smaller PF alongside BI. And if we can get him focusing primarily on cuts, transition and maybe developing his screen action, then when he does shoot, it should be better than what we've seen from him so far, no doubt.

[djsunyc]

no dpoy or all nba for scottie so his extension is locked in at 5/$220

[TorontoBarneys]

no dpoy or all nba for scottie so his extension is locked in at 5/$220

Honestly, quite expensive for a glue guy.

[Madvillainy2004]

He needs to work on his screen setting. I'd love for him to develop into a solid short roller that can take advantage of traps.

[Tripod]

no dpoy or all nba for scottie so his extension is locked in at 5/$220

Perfect. Let him get accolades next year instead.

[MikeM]

Traded multiple better players because of this guy

[Tor_Raps]

Reading a piece on why Grizz should trade Morant and saw this but:

Since 2023, he’s made just 30.5 percent of his 3-pointers. To put that in context, there are 166 players who’ve attempted at least 600 of them over that span, and only Scottie Barnes has been worse

.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/04/28/nba/ja-morant-memphis-grizzlies-nba-trade-rumors-offseason

Scottie catching strays now.

Its not a stray when it's 100% factually correct lol

[Tor_Raps]

I'd much rather IQ + RJ next to Barnes than just JA. I'd rather IQ at 35mill with pull up 3 ability next to Barnes n Ingram compared to JA at 50+mill with no 3

Would you rather Ja/Ochai starting vs IQ/RJ?

[HangTime]

no dpoy or all nba for scottie so his extension is locked in at 5/$220

Perfect. Let him get accolades next year instead.

It's part of the sacrifice, a star that's a true team player.