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4 best undrafted talents to suit up for the Toronto Raptors

By Elaine Blum

Mar 22, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) dribbles the ball away from Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) dribbles the ball away from Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 22, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) dribbles the ball away from Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) dribbles the ball away from Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Fred VanVleet

VanVleet had a successful college career at Wichita State University that included a Final Four run, an undefeated 2013-14 regular season, and two Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year honors.

Nevertheless, VanVleet went undrafted in 2016 due mainly to his height and signed a deal with the Raptors to play in the NBA Summer League. His performance earned him a multi-year deal, but most of his early NBA career was spent in the G League. In 2017, VanVleet won a G League championship with the Raptors 905 and steadily improved every following season as he was given more opportunities and minutes in NBA games.

By 2018, he was a vital rotational player and ultimately proved his worth in the Raptors’ championship season. After providing important scoring off the bench and taking on the almost nightmarish task of guarding the Warriors’ Stephen Curry in the 2019 NBA Finals, VanVleet finished second in Finals MVP voting behind his teammate Kawhi Leonard.

Ever since, the vocal leader has been starting and has become a centerpiece of the Raptors’ franchise. Until someone comes around to top all that, VanVleet’s name is safely etched on top of this list as the best undrafted talent to suit up for the Toronto Raptors.

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