The Toronto Raptors are scheduled to have the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Let’s take a look at the Raptors best NBA Draft picks in franchise history. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. Only time with the team is credited, so someone like Tracy McGrady isn’t higher due to lack of time with the team. Also, Vince Carter was acquired in a draft day deal, thus not drafted by the team. We shall see if young players like Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter can play their way on the list in the near future.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Toronto Raptors History
10. Jakob Poeltl (9th overall, 2016)
Jakob Poeltl is now in his second stint with the Raptors. He became a solid backup big during his second season and now is the Raptors starting center. Last season, Poeltl averaged career-bests with his 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds to go along with an excellent 62.7 field goal percentage.
9. Tracy McGrady (9th overall, 1997)
Certainly, if we went by his whole career, Tracy McGrady would be much higher. With the Raptors, he played just three seasons though. His last season with Toronto in 1999-00 was his most productive as he averaged 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds while finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
8. Andrea Bargnani (1st overall, 2006)
Should Andrea Bargnani be on here? While his career can be seen as somewhat disappointing, Bargnani averaged 21.4 points in 2010-11 and 19.5 the following year. He was also a three-point threat as a seven-footer as he connected on 36.1% of his three-point tries.
7. Jonas Valanciunas (5th overall, 2011)
A double-double threat each time he stepped foot on the court, Jonas Valanciunas was on the Raptors for 6.5 seasons. During that time, he posted averages of 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 55.9% from the field. Valanciunas grabbed 3,961 rebounds with the Raptors, second most in team history.
6. Damon Stoudamire (7th overall, 1995)
While he was traded during just his third season, Damon Stoudamire was the most popular Raptors player during their infancy. The 5-foot-10 point guard was named Rookie of the Year in 1995-96 when he averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 assists. He upped his scoring average to over 20 a night in his second year.
5. Morris Peterson (21st overall, 2000)
Finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2000-01, Morris Peterson spent seven years with the Raptors. He averaged double figures in scoring four times, including a career-high 16.8 points in 2005-06. His 801 made three-pointers are the third-most in franchise history.
4. OG Anunoby (23rd overall, 2017)
OG Anunoby played 6.5 seasons with Toronto before being dealt to the New York Knicks. He led the league in steals in 2022-23 while also being named to the All-Defensive Second Team. Anunoby was a member of the 2019 championship team, although he missed the postseason run due to an emergency appendectomy.
3. Scottie Barnes (4th overall, 2021)
Named Rookie of the Year in 2021-22, Scottie Barnes is now the undisputed best player on the current Raptors roster. Named an All-Star in 2023-24, his all-around play has led to career averages of 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals through four years. Developing a more consistent outside shot would develop Barnes into becoming a perennial All-NBA player.
2. Chris Bosh (4th overall, 2000)
Before winning two titles with the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh spent seven seasons with Toronto. He was named an All-Star each of his last five seasons for them while also averaging at least 22.3 points. Bosh averaged double figures in rebounds three years for the Raptors and at least a block per game every year with the team.
1. DeMar DeRozan (9th overall, 2009)
DeMar DeRozan gets the nod over Bosh due to much more playoff experience while with the Raptors. He is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 13,296 points. Spending nine seasons with Toronto, he earned four All-Star and two All-NBA nods.
Photo credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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