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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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Tracy McGrady, Toronto Raptors
DIGITAL IMAGE-Tracy McGrady scores the first basket for the RaptorsSunday April 23, 2000, during the NBA best-of-five opening round against the New York Nicks at Madison Square Gardens. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

81. . Shooting Guard/Small Forward. Mount Zion Christian Academy. Tracy McGrady. 2. player

Tracy McGrady’s placement on this list is difficult for any Raptors fan to stomach, but anytime a hall of famer is selected ninth overall, the pick itself was certainly special.

McGrady only played three seasons with Toronto. During those three seasons McGrady showed flashes of greatness and steady improvement, increasing his scoring averages from seven to nine to 14 points per game each season. The young Raptors with both McGrady and Carter would be NBA League Pass darlings in today’s era. The fact their run was short is not only a loss for Raptors fans ,but a loss for the entire NBA.

As soon as he hit the free agent market, McGrady made his intentions clear; he would not be resigning with the Raptors. T-Mac instead decided to leave for his hometown Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade that netted the Raptors a future (2005) first-round pick.

It was in Orlando where McGrady would break out. McGrady’s points per game exploded to 26.8 in his first season with the Orlando Magic, as he transformed from a promising talent to an All-NBA player.

Despite his individual success in Orlando, the team as a whole struggled, and after four seasons of mediocre play, McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets. In Houston, McGrady was paired alongside Yao Ming to form a very talented, but injury-prone team. McGrady dealing with back spasms, Ming with foot ailments, Houston never appeared to reach its full potential.

After both his and Yao’s injuries worsened, McGrady bounced around the league a while longer before ultimately retiring in 2013.

Unfortunately for Raptors fans, McGrady accomplished his greatest achievements in opposing uniforms. However, that doesn’t stop McGrady from earning the second best pick in team history.