Five Significant Toronto Raptors Drafts: Jurassic Park Style!

(Photo by: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Toronto Raptors gleaned their name from the animatronic villains of the 1993 film Jurassic Park. It is only fitting that we recognize that here.

Presented for your reading pleasure, five significant moments in Toronto Raptors draft history:

Represented with characters from the movie Jurassic Park. 

Hit the music. 

#1- 2006 NBA Draft

Picks- Andrea Bargnani

Jurassic Park Character- Tim (the little kid)

Andrea Bargnani defines the current era of Toronto Raptors basketball. His selection first overall in the 2006 draft effectively placed a lot of eggs in his basket.

In hindsight, it is easy to say the Raptors should have selected Brandon Roy or even LaMarcus Aldridge. Think of it this way: Toronto could have picked Adam Morrison or Shelden Williams instead.

Bargnani has gotten better every year, his 15.4 points per game and .409 three point percentage last year is proof. He was given more minutes and he strung together a consistently good season, even battling through early season doubts.

He still has another level to gain, and he will get there. With more experience Il Mago will start embracing his slasher side more often and give teams fits trying to defend him.

Tim was the classic annoying child in Jurassic Park. Watching the movie I would think, "Man this would be a better movie if that kid got ate!" Throughout the film, Tim slowly proves his worth and even survives a lethal encounter with velociraptors in the kitchen. He got better with every scene, just like Bargnani. 

#2-1998 NBA Draft

Picks- Antawn Jamison, Tyson Wheeler

JP Character- Dennis Nedry (Newman)

Jamison would never suit up for the Raps, he was dealt immediately for one Vince Carter; who would become the most polarizing figure in Raptors' history.

Vince Carter would earn Rookie of the Year honours and would bring the Raptors to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. He had become Air Canada. His performance in the 2000 Slam-Dunk competition cemented him as the toast of Toronto.

Meanwhile, Jamison would be mired in mediocrity with Golden State, who did not sniff the playoffs. He would earn himself a stint in Dallas and then on to his current resting place in Washington.

The rise and fall of Air Canada resembles the flight of Jurassic Park's chubby programmer, Dennis Nedry. Here was a man who had created the system that kept the island secure from dinosaur breakouts. He was also a backstabbing thief who was planning to steal dinosaur embryos and escape.

Eventually Nedry tried to flee and in return was given a face full of dinosaur venom spit right in his face, just like Toronto got when they dealt Vince Carter to New Jersey during his infamous, "I'm not trying every night" phase.

#3- 2000 NBA Draft

Picks- Morris Peterson, DeeAndre Hulett

JP Character- Dr. Ian Malcolm

Mo Pete was a Raptor favourite for the duration of his stay. Although the Raptors missed out on Michael Redd later in the draft, they ended up selecting a player who would become a mainstay for years (and dodged plenty of misses that were still on the board).

Morris Peterson would average 11.9 points a game as a Raptor, better than the career averages of the men chosen before him (Speedy Claxton, 9.3 ppg) and after him (Donnell Harvey, 5.6 ppg).   

Peterson was an excellent defender and a reliable shooter. He was clutch when the Raptors needed him to be but deferred when necessary to the Carters and Boshes. Mo Pete was the glue.

Just like Dr. Ian Malcolm, whose character provided the calm pessimism and level-headedness in a movie full of genetically re-engineered dinosaurs. You take away Malcolm and you have no movie, you have the dreams of a five-year old kid. He was the glue.

#4- 1999 NBA Draft

Picks- Johnathan Bender, Aleksandar Radojević

JP Character- Dr. Alan Grant

Another draft day trade would turn Bender, a career 5.2 ppg 2.2 rpg forward, into FC Antonio Davis a lifetime 10.0 ppg 7.5 rpg player.

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