Toronto Raptors: Re-drafting the disappointing 2014 NBA Draft

No. 59: Xavier Thames, SG, San Diego State

Thames was selected by Toronto, yet traded to the Brooklyn Nets for cash considerations on draft night. Like Daniels, Thames hasn’t played in the NBA yet, as he is currently plying his trade with Egis Kormend in Hungary. Thames hasn’t provided any utility for an NBA team since his selection.

Finding a solid NBA player at this point in the draft can be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, but it has happened before, and Toronto shouldn’t just treat these picks as guesses. However, the best available player at this spot might already be on the roster right now.

With the 59th pick, the Toronto Raptors select…Khem Birch

While several undrafted players have been able to carve out very long, successful pro careers, Birch may have had the most success out of all of the ones in the 2014 class. Toronto finally unleashed him as a starters after years of struggling as a backup in Orlando, and the results were encouraging.

Thames hasn’t come over to North America just yet, and the Raptors missed out on bringing Birch to Canada earlier in his career after the Magic snatched him away, but he’s proven that he did not deserve to go undrafted.