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Toronto Raptors: 15 best draft picks of all-time

By Mike Bossetti

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Vince Carter
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Vince Carter /
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DeMar DeRozan, Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 17: Vince Carter #15 of the Sacramento Kings, DeMar DeRozan #10 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors watch a free throw during the first half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on December 17, 2017 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) /

During the Toronto Raptors’ 23 seasons, there have been many draft picks both good and bad. We decided to take a look at the best 15 draft picks of all-time.

The Toronto Raptors first joined the NBA as an expansion team prior to the 1995-96 NBA season. The expansion, which also included the Vancouver Grizzlies, was part of a concerted effort by the NBA to expand the league beyond the United States, starting with their neighbors to the North.

Since that time Vancouver packed up their bags and shipped off to Memphis, while Toronto remains the only team left North of the border.

During the Raptors’ short 23 years as a professional franchise, they have experienced mild to little success. The team has a winning percentage of just under 46 percent and has made the playoffs in 10 of 24 seasons with no NBA or Eastern Conference Championships to date.

However, the franchise has experience more success of late. Over the past three seasons, the Raptors have won an average of 55.3 games, including a franchise record 59 wins last season.

Of the 15 players listed, four have been drafted over the past three seasons. The correlation between the franchise’s recent drafting success and improving record is certainly no coincidence.

Since becoming an NBA franchise in 1995, the Raptors have made 37 selections in the NBA Draft. Of those picks there has certainly been some to forget, Andrea Bargnani, Rafael Araujo, and Michael Bradley are just a couple of examples. However, there have also been a handful of examples who excelled, either with the Raptors or elsewhere around the league.

We decided to recognize those examples with a list of the best Toronto Raptors draft picks in team history.