No NBA team has drafted more poorly than the Toronto Raptors.
Sure, the Los Angeles Clippers have a longer history of piss-poor picks, but they selected Blake Griffin and he’s erasing a lot of those draft mistakes from the Clips’ history books.
But the Raptors – or the Craptors – as many Canadian hoops fans have come to know them, have bobbled the draft more times than not.
They’ve been sub-par for so long. But unlike other bad teams, like the Sonics- now the Thunder - the aforementioned Clippers and Timberwolves, Toronto doesn’t improve despite having some of the best young talent in the world at its finger tips.
The Raptors have wasted top picks on guys like Aleksandar Radojevic, Michael Bradley, and Rafael Araújo but have been able to acquire guys like Vince Carter (draft day trade), Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh through the draft. However, those stars ran for the border the first chance they got.
The jury is still out on former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani and most recently Jonas Valanciunas, who was sold to Raps fans as the Lithuanian Dirk. The 7-footer, who was drafted fifth overall last year, is expected to join the team after the Olympics.
As for this year’s draft, it seems like the deep talent pool has made this nearly a fool proof draft for Bryan Colangelo and Co., who own the No. 8 overall pick.
The college ranks have produced one of the best crops of born-and-bred talent in some years, with French SG Evan Fournier projected as the highest-ranked foreign player (at No. 28 to Oklahoma City). So Toronto faithful can breathe easy knowing another Euro project is probably not in the cards.
But that’s not to say the Raptors can’t fudge this up. Toronto needs energy and scoring. And most mock drafts have them selecting Syracuse sparkplug Dion Waiters, who in my eyes is a perfect fit for the Raptors’ sluggish offense.
However, the Toronto Star has the team selecting Duke’s Austin Rivers, who is possibly the most overhyped player in the draft. The son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Austin has plenty of basketball smarts, but rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in Durham and doesn’t have the frame or the skill to really blossom at the NBA level.
The Raptors could also make the mistake to go big again, and select a project big man like John Henson, Tyler Zeller, or even worse Illinois’ Myers Leonard. I watched nearly every Illini game this season, and while he may look like a stud he’s mentally soft.
If Toronto had of landed a Top-5 selection, I wouldn’t be sweating this upcoming pick. But, the Raptors, in true fashion, weren’t quite bad enough to grab one of those can’t-miss picks.
And now, Canadian basketball fans have to dwell on how the organization will throw up another draft-day air ball when the rim is 10 feet wide.
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To remove first post, remove entire topic.
No NBA team has drafted more poorly than the Toronto Raptors.
Sure, the Los Angeles Clippers have a longer history of piss-poor picks, but they selected Blake Griffin and he’s erasing a lot of those draft mistakes from the Clips’ history books.
But the Raptors – or the Craptors – as many Canadian hoops fans have come to know them, have bobbled the draft more times than not.
They’ve been sub-par for so long. But unlike other bad teams, like the Sonics- now the Thunder - the aforementioned Clippers and Timberwolves, Toronto doesn’t improve despite having some of the best young talent in the world at its finger tips.
The Raptors have wasted top picks on guys like Aleksandar Radojevic, Michael Bradley, and Rafael Araújo but have been able to acquire guys like Vince Carter (draft day trade), Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh through the draft. However, those stars ran for the border the first chance they got.
The jury is still out on former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani and most recently Jonas Valanciunas, who was sold to Raps fans as the Lithuanian Dirk. The 7-footer, who was drafted fifth overall last year, is expected to join the team after the Olympics.
As for this year’s draft, it seems like the deep talent pool has made this nearly a fool proof draft for Bryan Colangelo and Co., who own the No. 8 overall pick.
The college ranks have produced one of the best crops of born-and-bred talent in some years, with French SG Evan Fournier projected as the highest-ranked foreign player (at No. 28 to Oklahoma City). So Toronto faithful can breathe easy knowing another Euro project is probably not in the cards.
But that’s not to say the Raptors can’t fudge this up. Toronto needs energy and scoring. And most mock drafts have them selecting Syracuse sparkplug Dion Waiters, who in my eyes is a perfect fit for the Raptors’ sluggish offense.
However, the Toronto Star has the team selecting Duke’s Austin Rivers, who is possibly the most overhyped player in the draft. The son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Austin has plenty of basketball smarts, but rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in Durham and doesn’t have the frame or the skill to really blossom at the NBA level.
The Raptors could also make the mistake to go big again, and select a project big man like John Henson, Tyler Zeller, or even worse Illinois’ Myers Leonard. I watched nearly every Illini game this season, and while he may look like a stud he’s mentally soft.
If Toronto had of landed a Top-5 selection, I wouldn’t be sweating this upcoming pick. But, the Raptors, in true fashion, weren’t quite bad enough to grab one of those can’t-miss picks.
And now, Canadian basketball fans have to dwell on how the organization will throw up another draft-day air ball when the rim is 10 feet wide.
Great rundown of the Raptors current situation. I think a big question will be whether they can entice Nash to come back home and play for a few years. There is some strong mutual interest, from what I have read.
Bargnani was truly playing at a high level when he was healthy last year. Casey also got him to buy into the defensive schemes and Andrea was a much better defender than in years past. He did it consistently as well. I expect him to be very strong candidate for the All-Star game this year.
Valanciunas is a project, but one worth waiting for apparently. Colangelo and Stefanski are enthralled with him and seem to think he would have been the #2 pick were he coming out this 2012 draft. By all accounts, he is more aggressive than the stereotypical "soft" Euro star. I think he will be their starting center very early in this season.
Had the Raps been able to trade the #8 pick for Gay or Iguodala, that would have been phenomenal. Very unlikely to occur unless they put together some sort of package on draft day.
Though Waters is considered the strongest likelihood at #8, I think Jeremy Lamb or Terrence Ross might fit well alongside DeRozan(and possibly Nash). Don't count them out on draft day.
I agree, all the big men(Zeller, Henson, Leonard) are to be avoided. They just don't fit in the Raps' future with Bargnani and Valanciunas.
It will be interesting for the Raps this draft. They could very well put themselves in playoff contention with a couple sly moves.
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Great rundown of the Raptors current situation. I think a big question will be whether they can entice Nash to come back home and play for a few years. There is some strong mutual interest, from what I have read.
Bargnani was truly playing at a high level when he was healthy last year. Casey also got him to buy into the defensive schemes and Andrea was a much better defender than in years past. He did it consistently as well. I expect him to be very strong candidate for the All-Star game this year.
Valanciunas is a project, but one worth waiting for apparently. Colangelo and Stefanski are enthralled with him and seem to think he would have been the #2 pick were he coming out this 2012 draft. By all accounts, he is more aggressive than the stereotypical "soft" Euro star. I think he will be their starting center very early in this season.
Had the Raps been able to trade the #8 pick for Gay or Iguodala, that would have been phenomenal. Very unlikely to occur unless they put together some sort of package on draft day.
Though Waters is considered the strongest likelihood at #8, I think Jeremy Lamb or Terrence Ross might fit well alongside DeRozan(and possibly Nash). Don't count them out on draft day.
I agree, all the big men(Zeller, Henson, Leonard) are to be avoided. They just don't fit in the Raps' future with Bargnani and Valanciunas.
It will be interesting for the Raps this draft. They could very well put themselves in playoff contention with a couple sly moves.
As a fellow Canadian and Raptor fan, I hope they do not draft Austin Rivers. This is the NBA, not AAU or NCAA. Austin Rivers wouldn't even make it through a season overseas.
Personally, I like the Raptors to take Jeremy Lamb but I don't think he is worth the #8 spot...I think Lamb could turn into one of the best draftees in the future but he needs the correct situation.
The Raptors need a PG and in all honesty, I think Ramon Sessions would be a great pickup. He was thrown into the fire with the Lakers and played most of the post-season injured...I believe he is a free agent this season but I could be wrong.
I think the biggest question mark is Ed Davis....
Give this kid a few more years and you may see him grow into a more athletic Chris Bosh. This kid has some abilities that are unteachable.
Give these Raptors a few years and they may make it past the 1st round of the playoffs. Hell, I think they make it in the playoffs this year. Fuck Milwaukee, the Knicks and the Celtics. Lets go Craptors!
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As a fellow Canadian and Raptor fan, I hope they do not draft Austin Rivers. This is the NBA, not AAU or NCAA. Austin Rivers wouldn't even make it through a season overseas.
Personally, I like the Raptors to take Jeremy Lamb but I don't think he is worth the #8 spot...I think Lamb could turn into one of the best draftees in the future but he needs the correct situation.
The Raptors need a PG and in all honesty, I think Ramon Sessions would be a great pickup. He was thrown into the fire with the Lakers and played most of the post-season injured...I believe he is a free agent this season but I could be wrong.
I think the biggest question mark is Ed Davis....
Give this kid a few more years and you may see him grow into a more athletic Chris Bosh. This kid has some abilities that are unteachable.
Give these Raptors a few years and they may make it past the 1st round of the playoffs. Hell, I think they make it in the playoffs this year. Fuck Milwaukee, the Knicks and the Celtics. Lets go Craptors!
No NBA team has drafted more poorly than the Toronto Raptors.
ABSOLUTELY WRONG MY FRIEND!! You know who the Trail Blazers took in the 1984 NBA draft with the 2nd overall pick? Your right not MJ they took Sam Bowie with the 2nd pick in the 1984 draft. Bulls took MJ with the third pick. Houston had the 1st pick in that draft so you could argue both Houston and Portland have a worse draft history for whiffing on Jordan although Houston did draft Olajuwon. By far its Portland.
2007 draft, Portland took Greg Oden #1. You know who went #2? Thats right the Durantula! Portland had the biggest whiff in draft history by taking Sam Bowie over MJ.
Raptors are a sorry ass franchise and should be moved out of Canada IMO. If I was a rich rich man I would look at trying to buy that franchise. First thing I would do is move them to the U.S. Possibly to Washington.
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Quote Originally Posted by J_Logan:
No NBA team has drafted more poorly than the Toronto Raptors.
ABSOLUTELY WRONG MY FRIEND!! You know who the Trail Blazers took in the 1984 NBA draft with the 2nd overall pick? Your right not MJ they took Sam Bowie with the 2nd pick in the 1984 draft. Bulls took MJ with the third pick. Houston had the 1st pick in that draft so you could argue both Houston and Portland have a worse draft history for whiffing on Jordan although Houston did draft Olajuwon. By far its Portland.
2007 draft, Portland took Greg Oden #1. You know who went #2? Thats right the Durantula! Portland had the biggest whiff in draft history by taking Sam Bowie over MJ.
Raptors are a sorry ass franchise and should be moved out of Canada IMO. If I was a rich rich man I would look at trying to buy that franchise. First thing I would do is move them to the U.S. Possibly to Washington.
ABSOLUTELY WRONG MY FRIEND!! You know who the Trail Blazers took in the 1984 NBA draft with the 2nd overall pick? Your right not MJ they took Sam Bowie with the 2nd pick in the 1984 draft. Bulls took MJ with the third pick. Houston had the 1st pick in that draft so you could argue both Houston and Portland have a worse draft history for whiffing on Jordan although Houston did draft Olajuwon. By far its Portland.
2007 draft, Portland took Greg Oden #1. You know who went #2? Thats right the Durantula! Portland had the biggest whiff in draft history by taking Sam Bowie over MJ.
Raptors are a sorry ass franchise and should be moved out of Canada IMO. If I was a rich rich man I would look at trying to buy that franchise. First thing I would do is move them to the U.S. Possibly to Washington.
I would fully support a Toronto Raptor move to Seattle, or possibly Vancouver is they wanted it to stay in Canada.
New TV announcers too please
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Quote Originally Posted by SiMbEcK11:
ABSOLUTELY WRONG MY FRIEND!! You know who the Trail Blazers took in the 1984 NBA draft with the 2nd overall pick? Your right not MJ they took Sam Bowie with the 2nd pick in the 1984 draft. Bulls took MJ with the third pick. Houston had the 1st pick in that draft so you could argue both Houston and Portland have a worse draft history for whiffing on Jordan although Houston did draft Olajuwon. By far its Portland.
2007 draft, Portland took Greg Oden #1. You know who went #2? Thats right the Durantula! Portland had the biggest whiff in draft history by taking Sam Bowie over MJ.
Raptors are a sorry ass franchise and should be moved out of Canada IMO. If I was a rich rich man I would look at trying to buy that franchise. First thing I would do is move them to the U.S. Possibly to Washington.
I would fully support a Toronto Raptor move to Seattle, or possibly Vancouver is they wanted it to stay in Canada.
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