Barnes called his injury ‘weird,’ but it would be foolish to return

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As is his nature, Scottie Barnes didn’t really provide any details about a possible return to court.

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If we analyze his comments, we get the impression that the Raptors have seen the last face of their franchise anointed, which is a good thing.

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Considering how things have gone for this depleted roster, there’s no point in Barnes returning for any of the team’s remaining 16 games, as the Raptors find themselves 20 games under .500 with d other defeats to follow.

For starters, the Raptors aren’t going anywhere other than the draft lottery.

It was during the 2021 draft lottery that the ping-pong balls fell in Toronto’s favor, a fortuitous turn of events that moved the Raptors from seventh to fourth in the draft.

With the pick came Barnes in the same draft class that would see the Detroit Pistons select Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick.

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Each player has become the go-to option for their respective team, two highly skilled youngsters whose games have some similarities.

Cunningham has the ball in his hands in virtually every offensive set given his position as Detroit’s starting point guard.

He has a more consistent three-point shot and his command in the half-court is much more refined.

Barnes sees the field exceptionally well and has a post game that can be unstoppable.

Regardless, the Raptors and Pistons have a legitimate building block in Barnes and Cunningham, respectively.

The two teams met Wednesday night at Motown as Detroit defeated the Raptors for the second straight time at home to win the seasonal series, 2-1.

Cunningham was on the field running Detroit’s offense, while Barnes was in street clothes cheering on his teammates from the bench.

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It was during Toronto’s four-game road trip that Barnes rejoined the team after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured third metacarpal bone in his left or non-shooting hand.

Whether it was taking his team to dinner, cheering on his teammates or providing a shoulder to lean on, Barnes tried to stay engaged.

“I hope I can go back,” Barnes told reporters in Detroit during the Raptors’ morning shootaround.

“I try to help in any way I can.”

There is always, in theory, the possibility that Barnes returns to the field.

In reality, this makes no sense.

He’s not close to making a final decision, but logic dictates that he remains inactive, allowing the Raptors to audition players who would normally be buried on the bench.

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Ideally, the next time Barnes is on the field will be later this spring, when he showcases his talents for the United States.

USA Basketball’s men’s player pool for the Paris Olympics includes Barnes.

He has a better chance of competing in Paris than playing with the Raptors this season.

Naming the pool is the first official phase of the process of putting together an Olympic roster of 12 players who will be coached by Steve Kerr of Golden State and assisted by Erik Spoelstra of Miami, Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers and Mark Few of Gonzaga .

Barnes is a very unique player considering his skills and size.

The problem is that he is far from being a consistent three-point shooter, which is highly coveted in international football.

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The fact that he will be with some of the best in the game should help Barnes as he continues to develop.

Given the state of Toronto’s roster, Barnes wouldn’t stand to gain anything by considering playing again this season.

The Raptors have been reduced to looking ahead to next season and assessing how many players on the current roster should be back when training camp begins this fall.

Even Barnes admitted that the last few weeks have given the players an opportunity they wouldn’t have had if the team had been fully healthy.

“I’m super excited to see them play,” he said. “They learn the system, the attention to detail. They play hard and they compete.

The Raptors competed and their effort level cannot be questioned.

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Whether it was Gradey Dick or a Jontay Porter, a few players stood out.

Without Barnes, the two players acquired by Toronto from the New York Knicks, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, saw their roles and responsibilities expanded.

Everyone had moments where they became the best player on the field.

There is no doubt that Barnes is Toronto’s best player.

He was injured in a home loss to the Golden State Warriors.

“Strange injury,” said Barnes, who suffered the injury when Quickley accidentally kicked Barnes in the hand while trying to contest a layup from the Dubs’ Jonathan Kuminga.

“I’m getting better every day,” Barnes added. “It just takes time, but otherwise I feel really good.”

Barnes was injured on March 1.

Two nights later, the team lost Jakob Poeltl in the first half of a win over Charlotte when the big man injured his left pinky finger.

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He would soon undergo surgery and is likely done for the season.

When a team’s best player and its one and only legitimate center are unavailable, defeat becomes inevitable.

When healthy, Barnes and Poeltl make the Raptors much better, which goes without saying.

There will be more opportunities for Barnes to talk about his recovery, but he’s the type of player who doesn’t say much, if anything, of substance.

After all, he has to let his play on the court do the talking.

He’s best served preparing for America’s camp and using it as a springboard for Raptors training camp.

Any idea of ​​playing this season for the Raptors would be insane.

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