NBA Draft 2014: Canadian-born players not priority for Toronto Raptors

Feb 15, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Tyler Ennis (11) on a break away basket during the second half of a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won the game 56-55. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Raptors have never selected a Canadian-born player in the NBA Draft. The team was projected to be in the running for Andrew Wiggins (Thornhill, ON) at the start of the season, but a 48-34 record and the first postseason appearance since 2008 put that pipe dream to rest.

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Guard Tyler Ennis (Brampton, ON) of Syracuse University recently had a workout with the team, but isn’t expected to be available by the time Toronto makes their No. 20 pick on June 26.

There’s always a chance the team could trade up as the fates of both Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez are up in the air.

Ennis says he’d love to have the opportunity to suit up for the Raptors next season, yet he dismisses the ideology that being Canadian would be a major factor in Toronto’s decision to take him, per Doug Smith of the Toronto Star:

"I think anybody that’s lucky enough to play in Toronto with the fan support that was shown in the playoffs and the great organization that the Raptors have, I think anybody that gets drafted here is lucky.To have a Canadian would be great for the city, I think everybody would get behind him and I think it would just be a great opportunity."

As Smith notes, if general manager Masai Ujiri were to take a Canadian-born player, it would be because they were the best prospect available. They would also need to possess the mental toughness that comes with being such a pick.

"I think this has been a good process for the Canadian kids, I think the last few years a kid has gone No. 1, kids have played in the league, I don’t think it’s anything new any more for them.In terms of playing in Toronto for the Raptors? I don’t think so, we try to make things as comfortable (as possible) for them and bring them in; if we are lucky to get one as they go through the process I think it’s very simple."

It’s highly unlikely that Ennis will fall to the Raptors at No. 20, but if the team moves up in the draft or the impossible comes into fruition, it would be interesting to see if Ujiri would pull the trigger and make history.

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