NBA Draft 2012: What can Raptors get at No. 8?

It is widely believed that the Toronto Raptors will trade the No. 8 overall pick in the NBA Draft on June 28.
Looking back at some of the talented players that have been selected with the pick — Rudy Gay, Jamal Crawford and Andre Miller come to mind — the Raptors may want to consider hanging on to the selection.
Of course if you look at the last time the Raptors had the No. 8 pick things didn’t turn out so well as Rafael Araújo became a Raptor in 2004.
What follows is a list of the No. 8 picks over the last 15 years and a brief synopsis of how they turned out.

Others available: (No. 9) Tracy McGrady Toronto Raptors, (No. 43) Stephen Jackson Phoenix Suns
Adonal Foyle came out of Colgate as a project and never really advanced much beyond that. In an age where rookies’ second contracts were huge (and fast), Foyle cashed in. The centre spent 10 seasons with the Warriors before finishing off his career in Orlando and Memphis. He had career averages of 4.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 1.6 BPG.

Others available: (No. 9) Dirk Nowitzki Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Dallas), (No. 10) Paul Pierce Boston Celtics
Coming out of St. Louis, Larry Hughes had a big reputation as a scorer and he delivered. For some reason, he was never able to find a permanent home. Within two years Philadelphia had dealt him to Golden State and he finished the rest of his scond season averaging 22 PPG. The shooting guard led the NBA in steals in 2005. Hughes has career averages of 14.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 3.2 APG.

Others available: (No. 9) Shawn Marion Phoenix Suns, (No. 16) Ron Artest Chicago Bulls
Miller was never the quickest point guard in the league but he has been one of the steadiest as he has an assist-to-turnoever ratio of 2.8 over his career. Lasted three seasons in Cleveland before being dealt to the Clippers. Miller has career averages of 14.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 7.2 APG.

Others available: (No. 19) Jamaal Magloire Charlotte Hornets, (No. 43) Michael Redd Milwaukee Bucks
The Cavaliers drafted Jamal Crawford out of Michigan with the eighth overall pick but immediately shipped him to the Chicago Bulls for Chris Mihm. Mihm flamed out but Crawford is still playing. The shooting guard was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2010. He spent last season with Portland and holds career averages of 15.3 PPG and 3.9 APG.

Others available: (No. 10) Joe Johnson Boston Celtics, (No. 19) Zach Randolph Portland Trail Blazers
In the midst of the high school basketball draft craze of 2001, the Cleveland Cavaliers made Desanga Diop the fifth high school player drafted in 2001. While still in the league, the big Senegalese has never been more than a deep bench player during stops in Cleveland, Charlotte, New Jersey and a pair of stints with Dallas.

Others available: (No. 9) Amar’e Stoudemire Phoenix Suns, (No. 10) Caron Butler Miami Heat
Never developed into much beyond a bench player with the Clippers before moving to Seattle where he had his best years, recording over 13 PPG and 7 RPG over three seasons there. The power forward is currently with the Boston Celtics but had his season cut short by injuries.

Others available: (No. 18) David West New Orleans Hornets, (No. 29) Josh Howard Dallas Mavericks
The Bucks selected T. J. Ford out of Texas in 2003. The point guard battled injuries throughout his career and retired this winter because of a neck injury. Ford still managed to post career stats of 11.2 PPG and 5.8 APG while suiting up for the Bucks, Raptors, Pacers and Spurs.

Others available: (No. 9) Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers, (No. 15) Al Jefferson Boston Celtics
A pick that Raptor fans would like to forget as Araujo lasted just two seasons in Toronto before being shipped to Utah. The big Brazilian would spend one final season with the Jazz before bombing out of the league. Considering that the Raptors were widely expected to pick Iguodala, this one stings the nostrils.

Others available: (No. 10) Andrew Bynum Los Angeles Lakers, (No. 17) Danny Granger Indianapolis Pacers
For all of Isiah Thomas’ foibles, and there are plenty, his draft record with the Knicks and Raptors is pretty strong. While Channing Frye will never be a superstar in the NBA, he is an above-average role player who has averaged double-digit scoring toals over his last three seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

Others available: (No. 21) Rajon Rondo Boston Celtics
Do you think the Rockets would like to have a do-over with this pick? Not that Rudy Gay wasn’t the right choice but the decision to immediately ship him to the Memphis Grizzlies for Shane Battier has to hurt just a little bit for a franchise that has been seeking a star player for the past couple of seasons. Gay has developed into one of the best small forwards in the league while Battier was actually dealt back to the Grizzlies two seasons ago.

Others available: (No. 9) Joakim Noah Chicago Bulls, (No. 12) Thaddeus Young Philadelphia 76ers
One of the few things that have gone right over the history of the Charlotte Bobcats has to be the decision to deal Brandon Wright to the Golden State Warriors for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davidson. Now on his third NBA team, fourth if you count Charlotte, the centre appeared in 49 games with Dallas last season but has not exactly set the world on fire.

Others available: (No. 10) Brook Lopez New Jersey Nets, (No. 17) Roy Hibbert Toronto Raptors (traded to Indiana)
Joe Alexander was one of those boom-or-bust potential picks based on a players measurables and he ended up being the latter as he is now plying his trade in Russia. Alexander appeared in 67 games over two seasons with the Bucks and Bulls.

Others available: (No. 9) DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors, (No. 10) Brandon Jennings Milwaukee Bucks
The Knicks drafted Jordan Hill out of Arizona in 2009 and he failed to play a full season before being dealt to Houston as part of the Tracey MacGrady trade. Now with his third NBA team, the power forward looked as though he could be a useful bench player with the Lakers during the playoffs.

Others available: (No. 9) Gordon Hayward Utah Jazz, (No. 10) Paul George Indiana Pacers
The Clippers selected Al-Farouq Aminu out of Wake Forest in 2010. After a so-so fresshamn season in L.A., the small forward was dealt to New Orleans as part of the package for Chris Paul. With a sad-sack Hornets squad, he was only able to crack the starting lineup 21 times in 2012. Still, many believe has has potential.

Others available: Kemba Walker Charlotte Bobcats (No. 9), Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors (No. 11)
Brandon Knight had a stellar rookie campaign with Detroit last season posting averages of 12.8 PPG, 3.8 APG and 3.2 RPG. He looks like a keeper thus far.