Toronto Raptors: Revisiting the Franchise's Worst Draft Picks

The Toronto Raptors is not only Toronto's basketball team, they are Canada's team. This franchise has had its fair share of draft day blunders and if any GM would know what some of these players turned out to become, then they probably would go back in time and make a different decision.

These players were either straight up horrible, or they were players who underachieved. Many of these players never lived up to the hype, therefore being called: Draft Busts.

1999 NBA Draft: 5th Overall Pick, Jonathan Bender

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

3 Dec 2000: Johnathan Bender #24 of the Indiana Pacers is ready on the court during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks defeated the Pacers 92-80. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that

Though Bender never played a game in a Raptors uniform, he was still orginally drafted by the Toronto Raptors, making him a draft bust. Bender came striaght out of high school, and this could be the main reason as to why he was not NBA ready and never lived up to the potential.

Career Stats:

5.5 PPG

2.2 RPG

0.6 APG

Luckily, the Raptors never had to see these numbers since Bender was quickly traded away to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Antonio Davis, who became an instant fan favorite in Toronto. Could Bender have performed better as a Raptor? No one knows.

Notable Players Drafted later:

Shawn Marion (9th Overall)

Jason Terry (10th Overall)

Ron Artest (16th Overall)

Andrei Kirilenko (21st Overall)

Manu Ginobili (57th Overall) !

1999 NBA Draft: 12th Overall Pick, Alexander Radojevic

Basically, the Raptors had two lottery picks in the same draft, and both turned out to be busts. Radojevic only played one season in the NBA, barely making a difference for the Toronto Raptors. Not even a season, he played only three games before being plagues by an injury. he was traded to the Denver Nuggets where he barely played. He eventually headed out to play for a European team.

Career Stats:

2.3 PPG

2.7 RPG

 Since he was drafted in the 1999 draft as well, the same notable players that were listed in the slide before, excluding Jason Terry and Shawn Marion.

2001 NBA Draft: 17th Overall Pick, Michael Bradley

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 16: (L-R) Antonio Davis #33, Vince Carter #15 and Michael Bradley #5 of the Toronto Raptors look on from the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 16, 2003 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The C

Sure he was picked 17th overall, but he still is considered a draft bust to the Toronto Raptors, who could've have picked some players that turned out to be some of the biggest steals in NBA Draft history. Bradley never got it together as a Raptor, playing in only two seasons with the team. He had a horrible rookie season, but brought his numbers up during his second season. He was eventually waived by the Raptors.

 Career Stats:

3.1 PPG

3.0 RPG

0.2 APG

Notable Players Drafted later:

Zach Randolph (19th Overall)

Gerald Wallace (25th Overall)

Tony Parker (28th Overall)

Gilbert Arenas (31st Overall)

Mehmet Okur (38th Overall)

2004 NBA Draft: 8th Overall Pick, Rafael Araujo

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 10: Rafael Araujo #55 of the Toronto Raptors goes to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats on December 10, 2005 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Raptors won 111-103. NOTE TO US

Probably the most notable Raptors draft bust in the franchises 16 years, Araujo produced decent numbers as a Raptor. The main reason he is considered a draft bust is because he was projected to be drafted to be drafted either in the middle of the first round, or near the very end, but the Toronto Raptors went on to draft Araujo.

Career Stats:

2.8 PPG

2.9 RPG

0.3 APG

Araujo was later traded after the end of his second season to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kris Humphries. Araujo's rookie contract came to an end after one season as a member of the Jazz and was not resigned. He is currently a star on the Brazilian league team Flamengo.

Notable Players Drafted Later:

Andre Iguadala (9th Overall)

Al Jefferson (15th Overall)

Josh Smith (17th Overall)

J.R Smith (18th Overall)

Jameer Nelson (20th Overall)

Trevor Ariza (44th Overall)

Luckily, There Are No More

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - NOVEMBER 18: of the Toronto Raptors looks on before game action against the Denver Nuggets on November 18, 2006 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.The Nuggets won 117-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downlo

The Raptors have not made any big draft busts ever since picking Araujo with the eight overall pick. Probably the most controversial pick that the Raptors have was with the man pictured on the side, Andrea Bargnani.

He was drafted first overall in 2006, ahead of Rajon Rondo (22nd Overall) and Brandon Roy (6th Overall). Rondo is obviously the better player compared to Bargnani, and Brandon Roy is a top SG, but there was one reason he wasn't drafted earlier, and that was because of re-occuring injuries. These injuries are showing for Roy, who is not capable of producing as much as he did.

Bargnani is the leading scorer from all players in the 2006 Draft currently averaging 21 PPG, so the Raptors made a bold move picking Bargnani, and he is not the draft bust most analysts consider him to be.

Hopefully, the Raptors will continue to draft strongly throughout their years as an NBA franchise.

Thank you for reading