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6 greatest NBA Draft steals in Toronto Raptors franchise history

By Avishai Sol

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors takes part in warm ups before playing the Detroit Pistons in their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors takes part in warm ups before playing the Detroit Pistons in their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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Sep 28, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) at the podium during Media Day at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) at the podium during Media Day at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Pascal Siakam

What can we say about Pascal Siakam? Taken 27th overall in 2016, Siakam has changed the shape of his career and play style so many times that it’s difficult to keep track, but we’ll try.

Pascal 1.0 was a lanky, 22-year-old rookie with no elite NBA skill to speak of. He wasn’t exceptionally fast or strong, couldn’t jump out of the gym, and didn’t shoot very well. He’s a nice energy defender, but the 38 games he started his rookie said more about the Raptors’ need for a power forward than Siakam’s skills at the time.

Pascal 2.0 is born in the 2019 season. This version has developed his patented spin move and improved his handles to where he could create a bit for himself off the dribble and finish gracefully inside. He hit his free throws and was a decent three-point shooter. This is the year he wins league MIP and plays a vital role in the playoffs to help lead the team to the NBA championship.

Pascal Siakam has been amazing for the Toronto Raptors.

Pascal 3.0 has seen the departure of Kawhi Leonard and the aging of Kyle Lowry. Here, we saw Pascal continuing to improve his game but struggling under new pressures and attention. Defenses know his moves and are making him their primary target. His statistical boom gets him into the 2020 All-Star game, but he fails in the bubble playoffs. He’s graduated from the best of role-players to the worst of stars. Still a net positive, but it’s an unfortunate exercise in relativity.

Pascal 4.0 is the current iteration. This version of Siakam has played as the No. 1 option on his team for three consecutive years and has never stopped improving. He’s become a true point-forward capable of dominating the ball for serious stretches of the game. He’s become a deadly mid-range scorer, continued to add to his crafty interior game with moves on moves on countermoves, and has made his second All-Star team despite being written off the previous year.

Siakam’s career improvement is so drastic that it’s almost more a feather in the cap of the training staff than the team scouts.  Seeing the potential in the player he was to become, Ujiri pulled off one of the best late first-round picks in NFL history.

Next. 7 players the Raptors gave up on too soon. dark

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