Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Expects to have healthy offseason
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Barnes said Monday during his exit interview that he wanted to play at the end of the regular season, but there was still swelling in his surgically-repaired left hand, so the medical staff held him out for precautionary reasons, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun reports.
Barnes added that he doesn't expect to be limited during the offseason, so he appears firmly on track to lead the Raptors in 2024-25. The 2021 No. 4 overall pick was in the midst of a breakout campaign before breaking his left hand in early March. Across 60 appearances, Barnes averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.3 steals and 1.7 threes per game -- all career highs. He's eligible for a rookie scale contract extension this fall.
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Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Will miss season finale Sunday
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Barnes (hand) is out for Sunday's game against the Heat, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun reports.
Barnes was having an All-Star caliber season, but a left hand fracture ended his season March 1, and the Raptors employed a cautious approach with their star forward, especially once they were eliminated from playoff contention. Barnes ends the 2023-24 season with averages of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals across 34.9 minutes per game in 60 starts.
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Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Still limited to shooting drills
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Barnes was spotted getting shots up with a brace on his surgically repaired left hand during Monday's practice, Aaron Rose of SI.com reports.
Barnes underwent surgery to repair a fracture to the third metacarpal bone on his left hand in early March and has been able to do light on-court work over the last few weeks. However, he still isn't cleared for contact drills and likely won't play again this season, as Toronto has just four games remaining and is well out of the playoff picture. Barnes was catching the ball with his left hand in Rose's video, but the versatile point guard was doing only stationary shooting, suggesting he still has multiple hurdles to clear before getting the green light for game action.
Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Not yet cleared for contact
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Head coach Darko Rajakovic said Tuesday that Barnes (hand) has been doing some light on-court work but still hasn't been cleared for contact, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
According to Lewenberg, Barnes' on-court work hasn't involved him using his surgically repaired left hand, so he doesn't appear to be particularly close to making a return to game action. The Raptors haven't yet ruled Barnes out for the season, but with the team sitting at 23-49 and well out of the playoff picture, the team has little incentive to rush him back if he's not 100 percent healed from surgery.
Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Undergoes successful surgery
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Barnes underwent surgery Monday to repair a fracture to the third metacarpal bone on his left hand, Eric Smith of Sportsnet 590 The Fan reports.
Barnes fractured his left hand in Friday's 120-105 loss to the Warriors. With surgery being deemed necessary to address the injury, Barnes will likely be sidelined for several weeks and could be shut down for the season, though Toronto hasn't provided an official timeline for his recovery. Before suffering the injury, Barnes had appeared in each of the Raptors' first 60 games of the season, averaging 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.7 three-pointers, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in 34.9 minutes per contest while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Suffers left hand fracture
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Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand in Friday's 120-105 loss to the Warriors and is considered out indefinitely, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports. He recorded 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-5 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists and one steal across 16 minutes before departing.
The Raptors should provide more clarity regarding a recovery timetable for Barnes and a treatment plan in the coming days, but fantasy managers should be prepared for the third-year forward to miss multiple weeks. While Barnes is out, more minutes should open up for Kelly Olynyk, Gradey Dick, Bruce Brown and possibly Ochai Agbaji.
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Raptors' Scottie Barnes: Will not return Friday
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Barnes won't return to Friday's game versus the Warriors due to a left hand injury, Eric Koreen of The Athletic reports. He finished with 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-5 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists and one steal in 16 minutes.
Barnes checked out of Friday's game before halftime and was in visible pain. Kelly Olynyk started the second half in his place, and he would be a big beneficiary if Barnes misses additional time. Next up for the Raptors is a matchup versus the Hornets on Sunday.
