Toronto Raptors All-Time draft bust starting 5
By Tyler Watts
PF/C: Rafael Araujo
The Raptors had just missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year after their three straight trips to the postseason when they had the eighth overall draft pick in 2004. Toronto desperately needed help if they were going to return to the playoffs.
Rafael Araujo was born in Brazil but came to the United States to play college basketball. He starred at Arizona Western and BYU before jumping to the NBA. Araujo tested positive for steroids at the 2002 World Championships, and he was suspended from playing for his national team for two years.
Rafael Araujo was awful for the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors thought they had drafted one of their future starting big men, but Araujo never found his footing in the NBA. He lasted just two seasons in Toronto where he averaged 2.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game before being traded to the Jazz in 2006. After one season in Utah, Araujo left the NBA for a career overseas.
Andre Iguodala, Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson, Tony Allen, and Kevin Martin were all drafted in the first round in 2004 after Araujo. In fact, the eighth overall selection had the second worst value over replacement player (VORP) for his career among that year’s first-round selections.