Raps got it right drafting Carter, not so much picking Brazilian bust
The Raptors have hit the jackpot in the NBA draft and also dropped the ball a few times. With the draft Thursday, here’s a look (in order of where they rank), at the best and worst Raptors picks:
THE TOP FIVE
VINCE CARTER 1998: fifth overall Raptors career: 403 games played, 23.4 points per game, 15 playoff starts NBA career: 1998-present, 1214 GP, 19.4 PPG with Raptors, Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies A pre-arranged trade (with Golden State Warriors for Antawn Jamison) makes him a de facto draft pick and the best ever. Rookie of the year and eight-time all-star, he bestowed legitimacy on the franchise and was a globally significant player. The 2001 dunk contest was a seminal moment in its history.
MORRIS PETERSON 2000: 21st overall Raptors career: 542 GP, 12.0 PPG, 37.1 per cent 3-pt FG NBA career: 2000-11, 711 GP, 10.7 PPG, with Raptors, Hornets, Thunder By far the best mid- to late-first round pick in franchise history, he was for years the team’s most effective three-point shooter. Still holds the franchise record for consecutive games played (370) and overall games played (542). One of the true icons and fan favourites in team history.
CHRIS BOSH 2003: fourth overall Raptors career: 509 GP, 20.2 PPG, 11 playoff starts NBA career: 2003-present, 840 GP, 19.3 PPG with Raptors, Heat Raptors missed out the LeBron James sweepstakes in Bosh’s draft year but he wasn’t a bad consolation prize. Became the face of the franchise and remains the only player in team history to score more than 10,000 points as a Raptor. His points per game are second only to Carter.
DEMAR DEROZAN 2009: ninth overall Raptors career: 443 GP 17.2 PPG, 2 Atlantic Division titles Relatively unheralded after just one season at USC, he has blossomed into the team’s best player in a successful era and an NBA all-star guard. Committed to Toronto at time when keeping or attracting free agents could have been difficult.
DAMON STOUDAMIRE 1995: seventh overall Raptors career: 200 GP, 19.6 PPG, 8.8 assists per game
NBA career: 1995-2008, 878 GP, 13.4 PPG, with Raptors, Trail Blazers, Grizzlies, Spurs An inspired first pick in franchise history by then-general manager Isiah Thomas, the diminutive guard was the rookie of the year and the best player on a series of awful teams. Instilled in teammates a solid work ethic and a hatred of losing.
THE WORST
RAFAEL ARAUJO 2004: eighth overall Raptors career: 111 GP, 2.9 PPG NBA career: 2004-07, 139 GP, 2.8 PPG Widely perceived as one of the worst picks ever, the slow-footed Brazilian was traded before his rookie contract expired and never signed a second NBA deal.
Still available: Andre Iguodala (ninth pick, recently crowned NBA finals MVP)
MICHAEL BRADLEY 2001: 17th overall Raptors career: 98 GP, 3.8 PPG NBA career: 2001-06, 173 GP, 2.9 PPG with Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Kings, 76ers Was the NCAA leader in field goal percentage at Villanova and there were high hopes it would translate to the NBA. It didn’t, and he was never a consistent rotation player.
Still available: Zach Randolph (20th)
CHARLIE VILLANUEVA 2005: Eighth overall Raptors career: 81 GP, 13.0 PPG NBA career: 2005-present, 594 GP, 10.9 PPG with Raptors, Bucks, Pistons, Mavericks The two phrases “Permanent potential” and “just good enough to get you fired” come to mind. Had some big games in his one season but he’s going into his 11th season on his fourth team and has appeared in just five career playoff games.
Still available: Danny Granger, 17th
ALEK RADOJEVIC 1999: 12th overall Raptors career: 3 GP, 2.3 PPG NBA career: 15 GP, 1.7 PPG with Rap- tors (1999) and Jazz (2004-05) He apparently had a great individual workout for Toronto, which should tell you a lot about great individual workouts and their worth. At one point in his short career, he’d had more surgeries than NBA baskets.
Still available: Manu Ginobili (57th)
JOEY GRAHAM 2005: 16th overall Raptors career: 275 GP, 6.4 PPG NBA career: 2006-11, 377 GP, 5.9 PPG with Raptors, Nuggets, Cavaliers A bonus pick that was a remnant of the Vince Carter trade, Graham had what seemed to be astonishing athletic abilities that could have made him a great all-around defender. Never quite got it in the NBA as Mr. Inconsistency.
Still available: Raptors had second shot at Danny Granger (17th) or David Lee (30th)