The Toronto Raptors are a bad basketball team. They play well enough to win just enough games to consistently be out of the top lottery selections. The organization then turns around and uses the lottery selection poorly. I can’t think of any team with more eyebrow-raising selections on draft day. It would almost seem that Bryan Colangelo feels the need to prove scouting reports wrong.
On occasion when Raptor' execs evaluate a player correctly, they seem content to trade that player away. News flash, Raptors: when you are a bad team, do yourself a favour and draft players you want to keep and rebuild around. There is a reason why other teams are giving you their washed-up talent in exchange for your young draftee.
Here’s a look at the Raptors recent draft picks and trades that have been orchestrated by General Manager Bryan Colangelo since he came to Toronto in 2006. What follows is a year-by-year draft analysis, breaking down the Raptors selection in the draft and who could have been drafted instead. In addition, we look trades that Colangelo has made that just leave one shaking their head in disbelief.
2004 DRAFT
The eighth overall selection netted them Rafael Arauja. I can’t blame Colangelo for this blunder as he hadn’t yet arrived in T.O. This speaks more to the organization’s inability to scout players. The list of potentials here is quite impressive: Andris Biedrins, Kris Humphries, Jameer Nelson, Kevin Martin, Anderson Varejao, Trevor Ariza and even Andre Igoudala was available. But here’s my pick, given the team’s needs at the time:
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED: AL JEFFERSON
2005 DRAFT
Raptors had two first-round picks this draft, wasted picks on Charlie Villanueva with the seventh overall selection, and then followed it up by taking Joey Graham with the sixteenth pick. Raptors wanted to draft bigs in this year, which they managed to do successfully. Let no one say that they can’t at least effectively evaluate height. Here’s two guys that fit that skill set, and a whole lot more.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED: ANDREW BYNUM & DANNY GRANGER
2006 DRAFT
With the first overall selection, the Raptors select Andrea Bargnani from an Italian Club team. In all fairness, this draft was weak in comparison to other entry drafts. Figures that, when finally “winning” the lottery, the Raptors get to select out of the weakest bunch of draftees the league has seen in years. Look, I realize that drafting my guy instead would have been a colossal reach at number one, but do your scouting and trade down. Currently averaging 11.9 ppg, 11.7 apg and 4.8 rpb for the Celtics, what a difference maker this guy could have been in Toronto.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED: RAJON RONDO
2007 DRAFT
The Raptors did not have a pick in either round of this draft as they were previously included in trades swung by Colangelo. Those trades netted the Raptors such stars as Lamond Murray and John Wallace, while drafted players such as Glen Davis, Ramon Sessions and Marc Gasol all went in the second round to well-scouted teams.
2008 DRAFT
The Raptors procured the seventeenth overall selection in the draft, and actually made a fantastic selection in Roy Hibbert. This future all-star and top-tier center was immediately packaged with TJ Ford and Rasho Nesterovic to Indiana for Jermaine O`Neal. O`Neal went on to play in a whopping 41 games for the Raps before leaving for South Beach. The season was basically torpedoed from this one trade.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED and KEPT: ROY HIBBERT
2009 DRAFT
Once again the Raptors found themselves lottery bound, this year slotted in at number nine. With needs at forward and athletically talented players, the Raptors selected Demar DeRozan. I think the Raptors made a decent selection here. This draft was thin on talent, and the only player left who has made an impactful is Brandon Jennings.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED: DEMAR DEROZAN
2010 DRAFT
Let the lottery luck roll on as the Raptors had the thirteenth overall selection in this draft. In two seasons, Davis has started 26 games for the Raptors, while averaging 7 ppg and 6.8 rpg. This draft was short on talent outside of the top ten, and the Raptors did fairly well in getting Davis at thirteen. One player they could have taken, the Raptors have since acquired by offering a lucrative contract through free-agency. Colangelo, if you liked this guy enough to give $18 million over three years, why didn`t you just draft him?
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED: LANDRY FIELDS
2011 DRAFT
Figures that the Raptors finally crack the top five in draft position, and the draft is weak on North American talent and heavy on Euro guys. Not that Colangelo would have wanted it any other way. Taken fifth overall was Jonas Valanciunas, who is big on potential; however, he has yet to play an NBA game. North America got a chance to see Valanciunas at the 2012 Olympics, where he was unimpressive in posting 8 ppg and 4 rpg. In fact the leading scorer for the Lithuanian team was current Raptor Linas Kleiza at over 18 ppg. Kleiza is a serviceable NBA bench player who averages just over 9 ppg. Here’s hoping that Valanciunas isn’t a bust who’s going to average 4ppg in the NBA.
A look at who else was available reveals some young talent that is already making an impact, including one player who is poised for a breakout. Available behind Valanciunas were: Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson and this breakout star for this team that knows a little thing or two about drafting, the San Antonio Spurs.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED: KAWHI LEONARD
2012 DRAFT
The Raptors certainly raised the eyebrows of draft analysts everywhere with the selection of Terrence Ross at number eight overall. Ross played in the Summer League where he posted decent numbers and shot the ball fairly well. I still think the Raptors were reaching at the eight spot in taking Ross. If they were truly that excited about this kid, why not trade down in the draft to get him. The Houston Rockets would have loved to take Andre Drummond and likely would have swapped picks and cash to be able to do so. Again another Raptor draft day selection that leaves one shaking their head.
In summary, it is not an easy task to draft young players and accurately project how they will fair in the NBA. Plenty of teams have drafted “sure-fire” blue-chip prospects only to see them fail miserably. It would just seem that the talent evaluators for the Raptors are so focused on scouting overseas talent that they are ignoring the college kids in their own backyard.
Since 2004, the players drafted by the Toronto Raptors have appeared in zero all-star games. My projected picks, from the same drafts, have combined for six all-star game appearances and three NBA Championships. Yes, I realize that hindsight is 20-20, but forethought and preparation cannot be overstated.
Here’s some advice for the Raptors: stop being mediocre. You are your own worst enemy by playing .500 basketball. Playoffs are always just out of reach and so are the really impactful draft picks. Toronto as a city has shown they will still support a loser, case in point, the Leafs. So start losing! Stop the mediocrity; playoffs are a pipe dream, start playing for a top-three draft slot and, for crying out loud, draft a North American kid who can play.