Scottie Barnes is out indefinitely after he sustained a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand.
He suffered the injury in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors on March 1.
It is unknown at the moment how long Barnes will be out for and if he will be able to return before the end of the season.
Per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, the Raptors are expecting to have a treatment plan for Barnes’ broken hand over the next few days as the All-Star is still seeing specialists.
Rajakovic said that everything remains on the table as the Raptors have not ruled out surgery. A timeline for his return to the court will depend on what the Raptors decide to do per Lewenberg.
Rajakovic talked about Barnes being out and it being an opportunity for him to reflect on the season via Lewenberg:
“It’s going to be an opportunity for him to reflect on the season, to continue supporting teammates, staying in touch with everybody.”
Rajakovic’s comments suggest that Barnes’ season could in fact be over.
The Raptors have 21 games remaining and they are stuck in limbo right now.
They are 3.5 games back of the Atlanta Hawks for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. However, they are 3 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies in the reverse standings for the sixth worst record in the league.
It would not be wise for the Raptors to rush Barnes back and risk further injury.
Opportunity for other players
Barnes’ absence will open the door for other players to have an opportunity on the Raptors. Ochai Agbaji got the start in place of Barnes and he should remain the starter moving forward.
Also, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett both stepped up in the Raptors latest win over the Charlotte Hornets. Those two will be the Raptors 1-2 punch over the final stretch of this season.
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
