Toronto Raptors: 6 worst free agent signings in team history
6. Rafer Alston
Rafer Alston had one of the most successful transitions from the playground to the NBA. He also received one of the worst contracts the Raptors have ever given out.
After not showing much during his first few years with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors acquired for the 2002-03 season, when he showed some of his potential. In 47 games, he averaged 7.8 points per game, shooting a career-high 39.2 percent from three. He parlayed that into a bigger role with the Miami Heat for the 2003-04 season.
More from Toronto Raptors
- NBA Trades: 10 Pascal Siakam deals the Raptors must consider
- Grade the Trade: Warriors become title-favs in proposed deal with Raptors
- NBA Trades: Memphis bolsters their roster in this deal with Toronto
- NBA Trades: This Pelicans-Raptors deal would send a star to the Big Easy
- 3 NBA teams facing do-or-die 2023–2024 seasons
Liking what they saw in Miami, Toronto brought him back in the summer of 2004, signing Alston to a six-year, $30 million deal. While that only averaged out to a decent $5 million per season, the length of the contract posed problems almost immediately.
In his first season as a full-time starter in the league, Alston averaged a career-high 14.2 points per game, dishing 6.4 assists per game on the side. Purported attitude issues guaranteed that Alston’s first year under the deal would be his only in Toronto.
After the season, Alston was dealt to the Houston Rockets for Mike James. Ironically, James had the best season of his career that year, averaging 20.3 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.
As for Alston, he spent most of his career with the Rockets. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.8 assists per game over the course of his career, playing for six different teams.