The comment with most upvotes wins, any player from Raptors history can be selected and a player can win more than one category (please don't take this as serious, it is just a chance to have an healthy discussion ☺️)
by tomasmcarneiro
@Toronto Raptors
30 Comments
I have to comment here, Andrea Bargnani for me!
He was compared to Dirk when he was coming to the NBA e he was amazing in Europe.
Bargnani
Unconventional pick but I’m gonna say Terrance Ross. With his mix athletism and shooting ability, I always thought he should’ve been a lot better. Not to mention the famous 51 point game.
Mcgrady for me. At least what could have been if he just stayed.
TMac
Bruno was only 5 years away from being 5 years away!!!
The Carter/McGrady duo. It’s my top “what could have been” in NBA history.
So if I were to define “wasted potential” as a player who went on to do great things but didn’t with us, I’d go with Chauncey Billups. Runner up is TMac
If I were defined it as a player with flashes of clear talent that didn’t fulfill their potential from when we had them, Terrence Ross maybe. I still remember the 50 point game. Not something just any guard could do.
Kawhi, the potential to go B2B
It’d have to be Bargnani.
A #1 pick who didn’t end up being even a top 15 player in his draft class.
That class wasn’t one of the best anyways, but 2 of the top 10 picks winded up being all star players including the #2 pick.
Only positive from that draft in a way is we basically ended up getting the best (or 2nd best) guy from that draft years later in Lowry.
Ironically though, I think Bargnani a decade later would’ve been better. A PF/C who might have shot around 40% from 3 (his best season was 41% and this was obviously in a different era than the modern “Everyone shoots 3s” era), he’d have been viewed as much more valuable. That’d be between a Horford-Towns level guy (minus lack of rebounding ability)
Vince, again. He was compared to MJ. There was a time he had more value than Kobe. He got that jumpers knee against San Antonio, and everything changed. If he had the same commitment on his 20s that he had in his 40s, his career would have been much different.
Keon Clark
Bargnani
Andrea
He would be alot better in today’s NBA I think, but was a little too soon for him
T-Ross. Had a silky smooth jumper, could shoot 3s and crazy athleticism. He just never put in the work to be a better ball handler. He had all the tools to be better than demar.
Bargs. We all wanted Dirk Nowitzki but we got closer to Dirk Diggler.
T-Mac sitting on the bench.
The answer is easily Vince again. The Lakers wanted him, he was compared to MJ, then he had injuries and quit on the team. But somehow, this will go to DeMarre Carroll or something
Vince Carter
Joey Graham – built like a brick shit house and smart as hell but unfortunately that was book smarts and he has zero basketball IQ.
Vince
Joey Graham
Former #8 pick Rafael Araújo should be the answer based on where he was picked and how bad he was. But anyone with eyes could tell he didn’t actually have real potential, so we probably should have just used him for worst overall.
Terence Davis
For me it’s always been Keon Clarke. His personal demons and staggering alchohol problem destroyed both his life and his career.
T-Mac?
It’s Bargnani and it’s not even close
Vince Carter again… management could not give him the supporting cast to grow with. Wasted picks.
Andrea Bargnani. That dude refused to/couldn’t rebound and Colangelo can kick rocks for thinking those 13 good stretch of games was Andrea turning the corner. I don’t think that dude even like playing basketball. I can’t believe they didn’t listen to Bosh and decided to pick this dude over Aldridge.