Raptors Rapture
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 23
Next
Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Delon Wright. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Delon Wright – 20th overall (2015)

Delon Wright was an interesting choice at 20th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He was long at 6-foot-5 and had more of a traditional point guard game then our starter at the time in Kyle Lowry. He profiled as being an ideal pick and roll point guard who could help unlock Jonas Valanciunas immense power offensive upside. Wright’s upside seemed limited to a high-end backup who would need to develop a consistent outside shot to become anything more.

Wright looked like he was going to be a key piece for the Raptors until the 2016-17 season when the Toronto Raptors signed an undrafted free agent point guard named Fred VanVleet. VanVleet was not as pure of a point guard, but had a superior range and was comfortable on the big stage after having made it to the final four with Wichita State.

The two would provide solid backup minutes behind, and sometimes spot starting for Kyle Lowry, but with Fred VanVleet being awarded a $9 million dollar per year deal before Wright was even done his rookie contract (four years because he was a first-round pick), it became clear that Wright was a luxury that was to be considered a potential asset. Wright would eventually be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Jonas Valanciunas and C.J. Miles for former all-star Marc Gasol.

Wright averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 assists per game in his four seasons with the Toronto Raptors. Highlighting the stat sheet stuffing style that endeared him to Toronto fans, he averaged 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 30.6 minutes per game in his 26 games with the Memphis Grizzlies. Those numbers jumped to 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his 13 starts for them. He is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks after joining them in free agency.

Wright was the correct selection at the time. In fact, the only players drafted after him that now look to have higher NBA ceilings were taken in the second round. One, Norman Powell was taken by the Toronto Raptors themselves. The other two are Montrezl Harrell of the Los Angeles Clippers and Josh Richardson of the Miami Heat.