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Toronto Raptors: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks

By Holden Walter-Warner

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 12: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball as Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 12: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball as Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images /

2. Pascal Siakam

When it’s all said and done, there’s a chance Pascal Siakam will be the best player the Toronto Raptors ever drafted. For now, the power forward and 27th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft is simply a potential superstar in the making.

As a rookie, Siakam started 38 games, but wasn’t actually on the court very much, averaging just 15.6 minutes per game. He didn’t score much either, averaging just 4.2 points per game. Coming off the bench during his second season, he boosted his scoring average to 7.3 points per game.

Last season, operating in a bigger role alongside Kawhi Leonard, the beast known as Spicy P finally began to emerge. He averaged a career-high in points (16.9 per game), rebounds (6.9 per game), assists (3.1 per game) and three-point shooting percentage (36.9 percent). He scored 32 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals and won the league’s Most Improved Player award.

With Leonard gone, Siakam’s ascendance this season has only continued. Fresh off a big $130 million contract extension, Siakam has averaged 23. 6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, which would all be new career bests. He was also voted to the first All-Star Game of his career.

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Siakam’s 26th birthday is on April 2, so he’s not as young as some of his established superstar counterparts. But the Cameroonian forward is rising to the challenge of becoming one of the best players in the league.

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