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The Raptors did it right initially.
Of course there were all sorts of other issues that messed things up but in terms of getting talent they nailed it.
1995 - 7 - Damon Stoudemire
1996 - 2 - Marcus Camby (would have been #1 except for expansion rule)
1997 - 9 - Tracy McGrady
1998 - 4 - Wince Carter (traded for 5)
1999 - 5 - Jonathan Bender (traded for Antonio Davis after swapping with Denver 18 for 5)
2000 - 21 - Morris Peterson
That is a very good streak of drafting.
Of course the real story is the instability and poor decision making within the franchise that led to:
Stoudemire traded in his 3rd year.
Camby traded in his 2nd year.
McGrady* leaving as a free agent after his 3rd year.
Carter** leaving after 7 years of instability and mismanagement.
Bender acquired with a switch of 18 for 5 and then trade for a veteran, 31yo big that had just a few years left.
Peterson becoming the type of glue guy every franchise needs when they are trying to win.
But that is how you build a team through the draft. Now nearly 20 years later.....
Hopefully the ownership situation is much more stable than the late '90s.
Hopefully management is more stable and cognizant of cap killing contracts.
Hopefully the coaching situation can find a balance between X's and O's and challenging players without resorting to lawsuits or physical confrontations.
Hopefully the players are over the metric system and the ignorance of the early day of playing in Canada.
*The McGrady situation is really bad. It was McGrady leaving Toronto that ushered in the era of restricted free agency.
**The Carter situation is also a bad growth experience for the league. It was Carter's refusal to give effort and publicly stating a wish to be traded that brought in the rules of fining for public trade requests.
Of course there were all sorts of other issues that messed things up but in terms of getting talent they nailed it.
1995 - 7 - Damon Stoudemire
1996 - 2 - Marcus Camby (would have been #1 except for expansion rule)
1997 - 9 - Tracy McGrady
1998 - 4 - Wince Carter (traded for 5)
1999 - 5 - Jonathan Bender (traded for Antonio Davis after swapping with Denver 18 for 5)
2000 - 21 - Morris Peterson
That is a very good streak of drafting.
Of course the real story is the instability and poor decision making within the franchise that led to:
Stoudemire traded in his 3rd year.
Camby traded in his 2nd year.
McGrady* leaving as a free agent after his 3rd year.
Carter** leaving after 7 years of instability and mismanagement.
Bender acquired with a switch of 18 for 5 and then trade for a veteran, 31yo big that had just a few years left.
Peterson becoming the type of glue guy every franchise needs when they are trying to win.
But that is how you build a team through the draft. Now nearly 20 years later.....
Hopefully the ownership situation is much more stable than the late '90s.
Hopefully management is more stable and cognizant of cap killing contracts.
Hopefully the coaching situation can find a balance between X's and O's and challenging players without resorting to lawsuits or physical confrontations.
Hopefully the players are over the metric system and the ignorance of the early day of playing in Canada.
*The McGrady situation is really bad. It was McGrady leaving Toronto that ushered in the era of restricted free agency.
**The Carter situation is also a bad growth experience for the league. It was Carter's refusal to give effort and publicly stating a wish to be traded that brought in the rules of fining for public trade requests.
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