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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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Joey Graham, Toronto Raptors
TORONTO – DECEMBER 1: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics jumps for a rebound against Joey Graham #14 of the Toronto Raptors (David Sandford/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Double the disappointment in the 2005 NBA Draft

In 2005, the Raptors had two first-round draft picks at No. 7 and No. 16. Expectations were high at this draft for a franchise mired in the third of what would be five seasons of futility. With the seventh selection, Toronto grabbed UConn power forward Charlie Villanueva.

Villanueva would have a solid, albeit inconsistent, NBA career, he was traded for TJ Ford after just one season.

But while Villanueva could be frustrating due to a perceived lack of consistency from a very talented player, it was the Raptors’ second first-round pick at 16 that really hampered this team.

Toronto ended up with small forward Joey Graham, who was drafted ahead of Danny Granger, Indiana’s star player until knee injuries cut his effectiveness and career short. Gerald Green, drafted at 18, spent 14 years in the NBA, while star guards like Monta Ellis and Lou Williams were taken in the second round.

Joey Graham struggled to dominate the game at the highest level.

Graham was built like Hercules, but his play suffered from what looked like a lack of confidence. Graham’s play could be described as a player struggling to understand the flow of the game, and rather than react to opportunities on the court, he was pondering his next move.

He would start in 58 games over four seasons for Toronto and play for three teams in six years.

In a draft where Toronto had two first-round selections, Villanueva was gone after one year and Graham would never really materialize into a reliable role player, much less rise to starter status. Ouch.