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Ranking every first-round pick in Toronto Raptors history

ByRaju Byfield|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors sits in his seat during the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors sits in his seat during the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Terrence Ross. (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images)

Terrence Ross – 8th overall (2012)

Terrence Ross was both one of the most exciting young players in Toronto Raptors history as well as one of their biggest draft mistakes ever. Ross was a good player and has a skill set that is sought after in today’s NBA. He has yet to find that elusive consistency, but he is a slasher who can create for himself off the dribble and catch fire from deep. A former slam dunk champion, Ross tied Vince Carter’s single-game record of 52 points.

Despite his well-rounded game, high flying antics and perfect fit in today’s NBA, he will always be remembered as the player Bryan Colangelo passed on Andre Drummond for. No one could believe the selection at the time as Ross wasn’t even discussed as a lottery pick by most analysts. Drummond’s inexplicable slip to eighth overall seemed to signal the Toronto Raptors just had the steal of the draft fall into their laps. Alas, it was not to be.

Colangelo, who had designs on signing Steve Nash in free agency, believed that Ross would be an ideal fit next to Nash and DeRozan in the pace and space offense he wished to implement. He likely also questioned the fit of Drummond next to Jonas Valanciunas. Fast forward to free agency and Steve Nash ended up choosing the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ross would go on to average 9.5 points in his 363 games as a Toronto Raptor. Those numbers would spike to 13.4 points with 2.3 three-pointers per game in his time with the Orlando Magic. He had his best season in 2018-19 with 15.5 points and 2.7 threes made per game.

Drummond, however, would become one of the premier big men in the league and arguably the league’s best rebounder. He made two all-star appearances and won three rebounding titles. He has averaged 14.1 points, 13.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on just under 55-percent shooting thus far in his NBA career.

Adding insult to injury, he had his best season under former a Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey. He averaged 17.3 points, 15.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 53-percent shooting, numbers all the more impressive when one considers he did it beside an all-star level big in Blake Griffin.

Hindsight players the Toronto Raptors passed on include all-stars Draymond Green and Khris Middleton.