Toronto Raptors: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

Despite less than 30 years of existence, the Toronto Raptors own an impressive list of draft picks that have turned into NBA contributors.

The Toronto Raptors have one of the more interesting histories among all 30 NBA teams.

Created in 1995 as part of an expansion draft that also featured the Vancouver Grizzlies, the NBA was looking to expand its game outside the U.S., hopefully inspiring a new generation of Canadian ballers.

As the Grizzlies migrated south to Memphis, the Raptors were left all alone north of the border, tasked with making basketball cool for what is traditionally a hockey-crazed country.

Despite being located in what is considered by many a beautiful city, the Raptors have never been able to convince top-level free agents to take their passports and come to Toronto.

Because of that inability to attract talent, for the Raptors to compete in the league meant they’d have to build through the NBA Draft, scouting not only the top of each class but scouring the bottom for hidden gems.

Like all teams, they’ve managed to knock certain picks out of the park while others left fans scratching their heads.

The Raptors may not have any championships to their name or even an appearance in the NBA Finals, but they’ve been able to draft some of the more notable players in the NBA, including perennial All-Stars and others who hold a special place in the team’s history.

Note: This list is comprised only of players drafted by Toronto and is evaluated solely on their tenure with the Raptors. No draft-day trades were included, which takes Vince Carter out of the running.