Should Raptors fans be confident in Ujiri’s draft history?

As a Raptors fan, I’m so happy the Celtics only get a few days under the limelight before all the attention moves over to the NBA draft.

I can’t lie, I’m already there. While Jayson Tatum is on his cornball quote tour, I’m dialed in on who the Raptors will be selecting at 19 and 31.

Draft time is one of the funniest times of the year. The NBA draft expert who follow the prospects year-round get their one to two months of shine, while at the same time, everyone who barely follows college basketball watches a few YouTube highlights and acts like an expert.

I’m going to be fully honest with you at all time. That is my promise right now, at the start of our relationship.

I am not your guy to go to for draft content.

I love college basketball and am a huge Gonzaga fan, but I mainly watch college basketball for the teams and the season itself.

So I know a lot of the draft prospects, and have a strong understanding of their games, but could not break down their profile as draft prospects.

One thing I do feel confident about is my ability to breakdown players who have been draft by the Toronto Raptors.

Masai Ujiri joined the Toronto Raptors as their General Manager in May of 2013. I know his title has changed a few times, but he remains somewhere near the top of the Raptors’ decision making.

2013 though, is a long time ago, and that gives us a long list of evidence on if a Masai Ujiri lead front office can be trusted heading into the 2024 NBA Draft.

2013

The Toronto Raptors did not have any draft picks in Ujiri’s first year with the Raptors.

This pick was traded to get the GROAT, Serge Ibaka.

Just Kidding, Kyle Lowry.

2014

20 – Bruno Caboclo

37 – DeAndre Daniels

59 – Xavier Thames

Humbly, these were all misses.

The idea of Bruno Caboclo will go down as a success, while the execution not as much. Masai came to Toronto swinging for the fences and ended with a high fly ball.

Although you could never forget Bruno’s electric first showing.

2015

20 – Delon Wright

Solid pick. A key contributer to the bench mob, and an even keyer addition to the Marc Gasol trade.

Since leaving the Raptors, he’s been alright. Serviceable but bouncing around.

2016

9 – Jakob Poeltl

27 – Pascal Siakam

Probably Masai’s best year as the Raptors’ drafter.

As of right now, Siakam is probably Ujiri’s best…