Toronto Raptors draft: 5 times the Raps gave up on a draftee early

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TORONTO, CANADA: Toronto Raptors Damon Stoudamire (R) losses control of the ball while trying to go around Cleveland Cavalier’s Danny Ferry in the fourth quarter at Toronto’s Skydome on 21 November. The Cavaliers beat the Raptors 89-81. AFP PHOTO Carlo ALLEGRI/ca (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors have been in existence since 1995 as an NBA Franchise, and they have seen their fair share of successes and failures on draft night. With the 2021 NBA Draft less than a week away, a trip down Raptors’ memory lane reveals several times the Raptors drafted well and then botched the development or impact that prospect could’ve had.

The draft isn’t always the surest way to develop a winning team, as it takes an astute, patient management team to recognize the talent they have acquired and employ it to maximum positive effect.

In recent years, under Masai Ujiri’s guidance, this has been the case for the Raptors, acquiring Norman Powell in 2015, mining Pascal Siakam at No. 27 in the 2016 draft, and selecting OG Anunoby No. 23 in 2017.

Two of those early selections had exceptional legendary careers, and the other two were pretty good as well. However, most of those terrific seasons were not spent in Toronto.

Here’s a walk through Raptors history examining five times the team drafted well and then ruined the opportunity.

5 times the Toronto Raptors ditched prospects too early.

5. PG Damon Stoudamire, 1995, No. 7 overall

The Raptors selected seventh overall at the 1995 NBA Draft. It was their first-ever selection, and the reaction to Damon Stoudamire’s name was negative, as he was booed on draft night after being picked behind players like Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace.

Raptors’ faithful soon grew to love Stoudamire. The 1995-96 Rookie of the Year, Stoudamire averaged 19 points and 9.3 assists per game in his rookie season, and followed that up with 20.2 points and 8.8 assists in his sophomore season.

Kyle Lowry (league-leading 11.6 APG) has recorded eight consecutive double-digit assist games, passing Damon Stoudamire for the most consecutive double-digit assist games in @Raptors franchise history (7, 3/15/1996-3/26/1996). #NBAVault pic.twitter.com/nfefU6q3c2
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) November 5, 2018

The Raptors had a talented point guard to run their offense, but improvements elsewhere never really materialized. Neither did the winning. An ownership battle cost the organization NBA great Isiah Thomas as general manager, and it sparked an exodus of coaches and players.

Instability cost the Raptors a chance to keep Damon Stoudamire.

Two and a half seasons after becoming the star of the team, Stoudamire was included in a six-player deal, with only Alvin Williams sticking with the team beyond the 1997/98 season.

The Raptors also got two first-round draft picks in the deal, but it meant starting all over again. Stoudamire would play 12 years in the NBA, including some solid years in Portland, but the diminutive point guard known as “Mighty Mouse” could have led Toronto to great moments in the NBA.