The Toronto Raptors are still planning around a roster that isn't finished.
The agreed trade for Kawhi Leonard would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft picks to the Los Angeles Clippers, though the deal remains on hold while the NBA completes its investigation into the Clippers.
That leaves two versions of the rotation on the board, and Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles fit both.
Their defense, rebounding and quick passing can connect the lineup whether Leonard arrives or Ingram remains.
Their Games Fit
Barnes remains the lead player because he can bring the ball up, find a cutter and create his own shot when a possession slows down.
His 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game show how many jobs he handled across the regular season, and Toronto can still ask him to guard the best forward on the other side.
Murray-Boyles works closer to the paint and brings more force to screens, offensive rebounds and switches against bigger players.
His 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21.9 minutes don't fully capture how quickly he learned where to stand or when to leave his man and help.
The rookie became one of Toronto's most trusted playoff contributors because those reads held up when Cleveland attacked him.
He scored more during that series, but the larger gain came from staying useful through different lineups and matchups.
Toronto Can Build Lineups Around Their Defense
The pending Leonard trade would change how the pair is used.
Barnes could spend less time creating late in possessions, while Murray-Boyles could take more of the physical work around Leonard.
If the deal stays stalled, their defense gives Darko Rajakovic room to keep another scorer on the floor without leaving one player to cover every difficult assignment.
Barnes and Murray-Boyles can switch an action, recover to the rim and start the break after a miss, and that flexibility holds whether Toronto is preparing for Leonard or asking Ingram to remain in the same scoring role.
There will still be spacing questions when both share the floor.
Barnes doesn't draw defenders far beyond the arc, and Murray-Boyles is still learning which shots the offense needs from him.
Toronto can ease that problem by surrounding them with two shooters and letting either forward handle the ball after a rebound.
Toronto can also stagger their minutes so one of them stays on the floor with a more traditional center.
Barnes can run the offense with Murray-Boyles diving to the rim, while Murray-Boyles can protect a smaller bench group when Barnes rests.
Those choices would let the pairing grow without forcing Rajakovic to use it through every matchup.
Murray-Boyles Gives Barnes a Partner
Toronto can move Barnes between scorer, point forward and defensive stopper next season when the matchup calls for it.
Murray-Boyles gives him a teammate who can absorb some of that physical work while growing into a larger role of his own.
That connection already has support inside the locker room, where Barnes identified Murray-Boyles as a new fan favorite.
The interesting part will come when Toronto starts using them as a regular pairing and opponents have to decide which forward they want setting the next screen.