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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 – JUNE 24: Ed Davis (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

2. 2010 draft pick wasted on another ineffective big man

In 2010, the Raptors held the No. 13 selection at the draft, and it was used on another big in North Carolina’s Ed Davis. If there is one theme with the draft day misses by Toronto management, it has been their assessment on the quality of big men.

Davis’ addition to this list may seem unfair to some, as he has toiled in the NBA for just over a decade now and still maintains employment in the NBA.

However, Davis played just two and a half seasons for the Raptors for a total of 176 games. Averages of 6.2 points and 6.6 rebounds are not what you’d expect from someone selected that high.

A better choice at the 2010 Draft may have meant better returns in a superstar’s trade.

It isn’t so much that Davis was a bust or that there was a plethora of greater talent selected after him. Still, Toronto, under Colangelo’s guidance, did miss out on guards Eric Bledsoe at 19 and Avery Bradley at 21. Even Patrick Patterson was drafted at 14, right behind Davis.

Eventually, Toronto did trade to acquire Patterson, who helped the squad’s performance from 2014-2017 on playoff rosters.

So while Davis wasn’t a monumental bad choice, he didn’t improve the team much, and they could’ve done better by adding a young guard.