Why the Raptors' Scottie Barnes Can SHOCK the NBA — Eastern Conference Leap Picks REVEALED!

September 6, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"Scotty Barnes should have been an all-NBA player last year," says one host flatly, kicking off a conversation about which Eastern Conference players are poised to make a leap in the 2026-27 season. The hosts—Danny Cunningham from Locked On Cavs and Swip from Locked On Nuggets—each picked five players they believe will take a significant step forward, sharing their lists blind. The episode focuses exclusively on the East, with a follow-up show planned for the Western Conference. The throughline is clear: every season produces unexpected breakout players, and the hosts want to identify who will fill that role this year.

Scottie Barnes: The Headliner

Both hosts agree on Scottie Barnes as their top candidate. The case for him is layered. Defensively, one host argues he was "top three" in the NBA last season, alongside Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, and Evan Mobley. Barnes's size and length allow Toronto to run multiple coverages—drop, ice, trap, slice—and he guarded guards, wings, and bigs effectively while providing elite rim protection for a wing. Offensively, his numbers were solid: 18 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks per game, shooting 56% from two-point range. His per-75-possession assist rate ranked in the 94th percentile. But the hosts emphasize that his postseason performance against Cleveland was the real revelation. After a slow start in Games 1 and 2

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What you'll learn

1 (00:44) **Show Introduction & Framework** - Hosts Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) and Swip (Locked On Nuggets) introduce the episode's premise: predicting five Eastern Conference players who will take a major leap in the 2026-27 NBA season.
2 (03:40) **Pick #1: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)** - Swip argues Barnes should have been All-NBA last year and will take another leap, especially if a Kawhi Leonard trade materializes.
3 (11:45) **Honorable Mention: Colin Murray-Boyle (Toronto Raptors)** - A quick aside on a potential second-year breakout candidate.
4 (15:00) **Pick #2: Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)** - Swip predicts the third-year wing will go from "part of the core" to "inner circle of the core" in Chicago's rebuild.
5 (17:50) **Pick #3: Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)** - Danny picks Wagner, noting he has never made an All-Star team despite being a high-level talent, and betting on health and a coaching upgrade.
6 (20:53) **Pick #4: Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets)** - Swip predicts Miller will naturally become the star of his team with a bigger offensive role.
7 (25:43) **Pick #5: Naz Reid (Charlotte Hornets)** - Danny picks Reid, who moves from a bench role in Minnesota to a starting role in Charlotte, predicting a major perception shift.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Danny Cunningham

Show Notes

On this edition of Locked On NBA Game Night, Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) and Swipa (Locked On Nuggets) breakdown their picks for who is set to take a leap this season in the Eastern Conference. The guys begin the conversation talking about Toronto’s Scottie Barnes building on his postseason performance to become an MVP candidate. The guys also talk about Matas Buzelis, Naz Reid and more.

Image Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Check out Danny’s Substack, The Inside Shot: https://theinsideshot.substack.com/

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