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Toronto Raptors: Grades for the past five first round picks

By Mike Bossetti

Toronto Raptors - OG Anunoby (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors - OG Anunoby (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: OG Anunoby speaks with the media after being selected 23rd overall by the Toronto Raptors at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: OG Anunoby speaks with the media after being selected 23rd overall by the Toronto Raptors at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images) /

OG Anunoby

Despite all the positive grades Masai has received to this point, OG Anunoby is better than all of them. The best young prospect on Toronto currently, Anunoby’s rookie season outperformed even the boldest of expectations.

A pre-season All-American, Anunoby tore his ACL only 16 games into his sophomore year. Due to his injury, Anunoby fell farther in the draft than many expected. Despite injury concerns, Ujiri selected Anunoby with the 23rd pick.

Anunoby’s injury concerns appeared to be overblown. By game one he was ready, and by game 13 he was starting.

As a rookie starter on one of the best teams in the NBA, Anunoby played a highly efficient, low-usage role. He averaged less than six points per game but did so with an effective field goal percentage of 57.7-percent.  Anunoby was able to shoot the three surprisingly well at 37-percent and converted greater than 60-percent of his two-point field goals.

Anunoby’s biggest contribution, however, was on the defensive end. By the end of the season, Anunoby was arguably the team’s best defender and was tasked with the matchup of stopping LeBron James. (Spoiler that turned out to be too large of a task for a rookie).

This season Toronto will look for Anunoby to incrementally increase his usage while keeping the same, or close to the same, defense and efficiency.

OG was the best remaining prospect at the time of his selection and is still the best choice today. Some may argue Kyle Kuzma, however, his ceiling is significantly lower thanks to his defensive liabilities.

If re-drafting the 2018 NBA draft, it’s very possible OG would go in the top-10. Masai has had some great picks during his time in Toronto, but OG is the best one yet.

Overall Grade: A+

Next. Predicting the 2018 Buyout Market. dark

Overall Masai is that annoying kid in class that got better grades than everyone else. Unless you were that kid, then school is cool! If looking at class rankings, only Bob Meyers would likely have a higher GPA thanks in large part to three A+ selections in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.