NBA Draft: The Often Ignored Areas Of Player Development

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, who won last year's Rookie Of the Year award, has yet to take a major second-year leap, which occasionally has frustrated Raptors fans.

Statistically, Barnes is producing similar numbers to last year, and has regressed as a long-range shooter, which has been viewed as an all-around disappointment by the larger NBA community.

But is that fair?

Development isn't a linear process, especially in the NBA where there are always a vast amount of moving parts making up the results of a team's season. The Raptors were a team no one wanted to play last season, and while mostly staying intact to this year, the team is significantly worse.

Poor chemistry, individual games that don't mesh, coaching decisions, role changes, it all plays into the fabric of the team, and how it'll affect their chances long-term.

So let's use the Barnes situation as a learning experience of the surroundings that could play a factor in his development, which seemingly is going to have a more complicated road than originally anticipated.

Opportunity, and the lack thereof

Firstly, Pascal Siakam took a considerable leap. The veteran forward has played All-NBA caliber basketball, averaging over 25 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per contest. He's taking not just a career-high 18.5 shots, but also getting to the line 8.5 times per night.

By sheer default of having a higher offensive volume, Siakam has elevated himself to a point where teammates have to fit in around him. That makes it additionally difficult for a second-year to see a large bump in usage rate.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that the Raptors have All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr who are all taking 14 shots or more per game. This team isn't lacking in talent in any possible way, which only makes a bigger role that much more unrealistic for Barnes at this stage.

It's easy for Barnes' teammates to tell him to shoot more, but who among them are willing to sacrifice their shots?

Now, of course, Barnes needs to eventually get to that point where he just makes those decisions anyway, but at 21, it's fair that he isn't there quite yet.

Team aspirations

Head coach Nick Nurse was clearly aware of how good the Raptors looked last year, and wanted to build on that success this year. The goal of the season was clear: Use last season as a stepping stone to get even better, and possibly reach the level of the Sixers or Celtics.

When working under those expectations, player development often gets put on the back burner. Young players are demanded to produce, even if they aren't yet fully ready to become reliable winners. For those players, to improve in an environment where an entire locker room is locked into the idea of going for it can have both advantages and disadvantages.

The obvious advantage is competitive edge, and learning how to win. This is indeed crucial. The disadvantage, however, is how that focus can take away invaluable time to monitor your own development, as well as being overburdened with a responsibility you're not yet ready for.

Young players will usually take poor games harder than veterans. They're less used to the daily grind, and haven't been around the league for half a decade to familiarize themselves with the idea that on some nights, you simply don't have it. It's unquestionably easier for seasoned players to shake off poor games, and get ready for the next challenge.

Mental development

No two players are the same in terms of how they work inside their noggin. Every single person on Earth have different approaches, ideologies, perceptions, and concept understanding of a multitude of topics and situations.

Many of us share similar traits and thinking patterns, which is how we determine collective reason and run a society within a certain structure.

Development has to take into account how any given player operates on a mental level. Some might come out of the gates swinging, only to lose steam afterwards. Some wish to approach new things carefully, and ramp up slowly. Some struggle, and never quite get the hang of the circumstances they find themselves in.

There isn't one set formula, or one catch-all method, that applies to every single player. Believing so is both unrealistic and frankly unreasonable.

All of this brings me to the 2023 draft prospect evaluation.

As we slide players up and up draft boards, adjusting to the smallest elements we've noticed on the court, we have to remind ourselves that the most crucial aspect of evaluation is context.

Why isn't that player driving as much as we thought he would? Could it be because he's playing on the worst shooting team in the nation, which allows defenses to clog the lane and take away driving lanes?

Why has this top recruit not delivered yet? Maybe it has something to do with that player having recently experienced a death in the family.

Why is this kid we brought over from Bulgaria not showing progress? Perhaps the language barrier is tougher than originally anticipated, and he's homesick.

Why is our sophomore not doing more? Perhaps he's simply not mature enough to handle the amount of responsibilities the coaching staff has put on him yet, and won't be ready until he's a junior.

These, plus a thousand other specific situations and considerations, are elements in the overall process we need to keep in mind before we get to point fingers.

As for Barnes.. we'll see what happens down the road. At 21, he's far from a finished product. So instead of focusing on the actual results right now, let's maintain our gaze on his process, and give him the benefit of time. I'd say he's earned it.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

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