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Ranking every first-round pick in Toronto Raptors history

By Raju 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 – OG Anunoby. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

OG Anunoby – 23rd overall (2017)

Ranked here due to value, OG was a lottery talent who slipped in the draft due to torn ACL. A versatile wing defender with a developing shot, OG was and is viewed as someone who can guard the one through the five.

"“Obviously if he doesn’t have that injury, I don’t think we have a shot,” said Raptors president Masai Ujiri."

Selected with the Toronto Raptors second first-round pick of 2017, the Raptors chose Anunoby with the first they acquired from Milwaukee (along with Norman Powell’s draft rights) in exchange for Greivis Vasquez.

Anunoby just turned 22 in July. He is the same age as Atlanta Hawks fifth overall pick Deandre Hunter (whose 22nd birthday falls this December) and Memphis Grizzlies 21st overall pick Brandon Clarke. Entering his third season and still the same age as some rookies, the book has yet to be written on the talented wing.

Anunoby has averaged just 6.4 points per game on 46-percent shooting to this point in his career but was still deemed untouchable in trade talks for Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal. Anunoby has steadily improved as both on offense and as a defender in his short NBA career. He has already made a name as one of the NBA’s best young defenders.

He has shown flashes on offense and aside from three-pointers made in a game, posted all of his career highs this past season. His six three-pointers made came against the Hornets on December 20, 2017. His other career-high numbers read as follows: 22 points against the Wizards, eight rebounds multiple times, three assists and three steals on three separate occasions, and two blocks twice.

Anunoby is projected to see a major role increase during this upcoming season, and depending on the development of Stanley Johnson, could soak up the majority of the minutes at the two or the three. Anunoby is likely to remain untouchable in the trade talks that will occur throughout the offseason and regular season.

Anunoby was a great pick by the Toronto Raptors and should continue to pay dividends over the next five to six seasons. There were no names that Raptors missed on in selecting Anunoby as he was the best talent available at the time. The most notable players to be drafted after OG include Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, and Jordan Bell.