Golden State Warriors NBA Draft Profile: Scottie Barnes is a perfect fit

Mar 20, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Scottie Barnes (4) dribbles the ball during the second half against the UNCG Spartans in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Scottie Barnes (4) dribbles the ball during the second half against the UNCG Spartans in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /

Pros of Golden State Warriors taking Scottie Barnes in NBA Draft

Scottie Barnes brings a lot of great qualities to the Golden State Warriors. First and foremost, his 6’8″ frame and 7’3″ wingspan are something to get excited about. From a physical standpoint alone, Barnes has a bright future in the NBA.

There is a growing need to switch everything in modern basketball. But, I don’t need to tell you that, as anyone who has been watching the Warriors over the last decade has understood how valuable a versatile wing can be on defense.

For Barnes, this has to be his calling card. He’s got enough strength and muscle to defend forwards. And, he’s capable of moving his feet on the perimeter against guards. With just a little development, Barnes will be a top-tier defender.

The rest of his game is a little more open-ended. As we’ll see in the next slide, Barnes has room to grow on offense. Even so, he’s flashed upside as a shooter, playmaker and slasher at various points in his freshman season.

Barnes averaged a well-rounded 10.3 points, 4.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game off the bench for Florida State. At his absolute peak, Barnes can blossom into one of the league’s premier two-way players with a touch of playmaking in his game.

Because of this, Barnes looks like he could be the ideal small-ball four to pair with the rest of this Warriors’ roster. Much of it relies on how effectively he can expand his range but all the makings of another death lineup are there for Golden State if they select Barnes.