Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Raptors have no picks in NBA draft – how big a problem is that?

By Brian Boake

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 9: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as P.J. Tucker #4 of the Houston Rockets defends during the second half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on March 9, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 9: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as P.J. Tucker #4 of the Houston Rockets defends during the second half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on March 9, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Raptors will have to improve without the help of an eager rookie or two from the draft. Our team has no picks. Is this a disaster?

The Toronto Raptors are without a pick in the June 21 NBA draft. This is the second time in franchise history our team is bereft; the first occurring in 2013.

Draft picks are hugely important to an NBA team’s success. Where would the Cleveland Cavaliers be had they not gotten the luck of the ping-pong balls in 2003 and selected LeBron James? That was a tremendously top-heavy draft. Skipping over the infamous Darko Milicic at #2, we find Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, in that order.

Contrast that to the prior year. Hoops Hype has put together a worthy “redraft”, which shows how sometimes draft crops are simply awful. They place Amare Stoudamire at #1, the injury-riddled Yao Ming at #2, then Carlos Boozer, Caron Butler and Nene. That bunch couldn’t carry the next year’s Top Five’s sneakers.

Probably the worst draft crop was that of 2000. Happily, the Raptors grabbed Morris Peterson with the 21st pick. The redraft ranks him seventh, though I’d put him higher. (Quentin Richardson at #6, Hoops Hype? Get serious.) The best player overall is Jamal Crawford, in their view, which is defensible. Kenyon Martin, a knucklehead, was selected first overall by the New Jersey Nets. He won’t be going to the Hall of Fame.

Getting it wrong

Bad drafting can affect a team for many years. The Minnesota Timberwolves put themselves in a wonderful position in the 2009 draft by nailing down the # 5 and 6 slots. Who did their soon-out-of-work GM, David Kahn, choose? Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn. With the #7 pick the Golden State Warriors chose a short, skinny point guard from obscure Davidson College named Stephen Curry. The rest is history.

TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball as Jordan Clarkson #8 and Jeff Green #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defend in the first half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball as Jordan Clarkson #8 and Jeff Green #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defend in the first half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

If the Raptors had not traded their first-rounder to the Brooklyn Nets, they would have the #29 pick. While I don’t like being on the sidelines for the draft, being without #29 isn’t a big deal; it’s barely a medium one. Our second-rounder is now Phoenix property as partial compensation for P.J. Tucker.

More from Raptors Rapture

The San Antonio Spurs have made something of a science out of finding rotation-grade talent very late in the draft. Their last two #29s were Dejounte Murray and Cory Joseph, both of whom fill important roles for their teams (Spurs and Pacers).

The best #29s ever are Toni Kukoc, who played with Michael Jordan’s Bulls, and Dennis Johnson, whose sweater number 3 has been retired by the Boston Celtics. He was a wonderful guard for the Larry Bird-era Celts.

The upcoming draft crop appears to be of high quality at the top, but suffers from a significant falloff even before the lottery picks are done. The Raptors can backfill any roster gaps with wise selections from undrafted players (Fred VanVleet!), and eager kids from the 905. We’ll be OK, though I wouldn’t want to be without a pick for two straight drafts.

Home/Raptors News