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Toronto Raptors draft: 5 times Raps passed on a star for a bust

By Jason Mills

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 23: Jonas Valanciunas (R) from Utena, Lithuania greets NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was picked #5 overall by the Toronto Raptors in the first round during the 2011 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 23, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 23: Jonas Valanciunas (R) from Utena, Lithuania greets NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was picked #5 overall by the Toronto Raptors in the first round during the 2011 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 23, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 25: Glen Grunwald (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

4. The Michael Bradley power outage in 2001

In the 2001 off-season, Grunwald would make a big splash in the trade market, acquiring center Hakeem Olajuwon from the Rockets. The deal was not good for the Raptors, as an aging Hakeem could not stay healthy enough to contribute to the Raptors’ fortunes in the 2001/02 season.

He lasted one season in Toronto, but his contract had multiple years left, handicapping the team financially when the salary cap dropped in 2002. Key role players like Keon Clark were never resigned, and it would be five years before Toronto would return to the playoffs.

The Raptors were armed with the No. 17 selection at the 2001 NBA Draft and chose to acquire Michael Bradley with the goal of pairing him with Olajuwon.

Michael Bradley flopped for the Toronto Raptors.

The power forward would spend five mostly undistinguished years in the NBA playing 173 total games for six teams and two and a half seasons in Toronto. Bradley averaged 11.7 minutes, 2.8 points, and 3.4 rebounds per game.

What is disappointing about this mid-first round selection is the players they passed on to acquire the Villanova alum. Zach Randolph was picked 19th, Gerald Wallace went 25th, Tony Parker was nabbed 28th, and Gilbert Arenas was taken 31st. Who knows how different that 2001-02 season would’ve looked with one of them.