The Toronto Raptors stunned NBA fans after they selected Scottie Barnes with the no. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Most mock drafts projected the Raptors to take Gonzaga stud Jalen Suggs. However, it seems like Masai Ujiri was more enamored with the lengthy 6-foot-9 forward out of Florida State and all the intangibles he brings as a playmaking and defensive wing.

Many believe the Raptors screwed up by passing on Suggs. Nonetheless, Barnes appears motivated to prove his naysayers wrong in his rookie season. With that, here are two bold predictions for Scottie Barnes in his debut campaign with the Raptors.

1. Scottie Barnes will shoot a decent percentage from three

The knock on Barnes is his lack of a reliable 3-point shot. In his lone season with the Seminoles, Barnes shot just 27.5 percent from long range. His inconsistency from downtown became one of his glaring weaknesses heading into the draft.

However, Toronto reportedly loved what they saw from Barnes during their pre-draft workout. Barnes, who turns 20 on Aug. 1,  revealed he had a good workout and obviously, this was enough to persuade the Raps in taking a chance on him. Likewise, Barnes believes his shooting has improved a great deal since his college career concluded. In any case, he is aware that he still has a lot of work to do to become a more consistent shooter.

The Raptors likely won't ask Barnes to do much on the offensive end, aside perhaps from some playmaking duties, which he is very adept of doing. They could just ask him to stand on the corners and stay ready to shoot. This simplified role could be beneficial for his growth as he could put his entire focus on developing his shot. His mechanics look a bit funky at the moment, but it's easy to see how his stroke can be fixed. Therefore, it may not be surprising to see if he ends up shooting better than expected in his rookie year with the Raptors.

2. Barnes will finish a lot of games for Toronto

The Raptors are looking to bounce back from a subpar 2020-21 campaign and get back into the playoff picture in the 2021-22 season. Most rookies don't get significant minutes on playoff teams, but Barnes could be an important part of their rotation this year.

Barnes stands 6-foot-9 with an insane 7-foot-3 wingspan. He gets a lot of Draymond Green comparisons with his ability to initiate and create plays on offense and be an absolute menace on the defensive side of the floor. His length, energy, and ability to guard multiple positions will definitely be his calling card in earning minutes, especially in year 1.

Nick Nurse will probably still roll with a more traditional starting five. Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby will start at both forward spots, leaving Barnes to take a bench role through his rookie campaign. Nonetheless, many believe that the Florida State standout will thrive most as a small-ball five.

With everything he brings to the table as a switchable defensive stud, it would not be shocking to see Barnes finishing a lot of games for the Raptors this season.