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Toronto Raptors: Raptors’ five worst draft picks all-time

By Jason Mills

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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5. Jacob Poeltl – Power Forward/Center 9th overall 2016 NBA Draft

Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

In a similar fashion to the 2005 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors had two first-round selections at the 2016 NBA Draft. This time it was the 9th and 27th picks. While Poeltl is hardly a bust of a lottery pick, his play and development are dwarfed by the meteoric rise of his former teammate and draft class colleague Pascal Siakam.

Selected at 27 in the 2016 Draft, “Spicy P” has helped the team win a championship and was named the league’s Most Improved Player. He averaged 22.9 points per game this season, while Poeltl, who has spent the last two seasons in San Antonio, is averaging 5.5 points in 16.5 minutes a game.

While Jacob Poeltl is a valuable role player, such a talent level is beneath being qualified as a lottery pick in the draft. If the Toronto Raptors could redo the 2016 Draft, they and the rest of the league would place a higher value on the talents of Pascal Siakam over Jacob Poeltl.

Considering this list, it’s apparent that even when the Toronto Raptors had some troublesome times management wise, they have been a pretty stable franchise when it relates to drafting talent. There are other franchises in the NBA that have a much worse track record at the NBA Draft than Toronto.

Most of the Raptors’ worst picks were second-round prospects with little expectation for success.