Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Rashad Vaughn (20) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Rashad Vaughn (20) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Rashad Vaughn. 20. player. 81. . Shooting Guard

Toronto went with Utah Utes senior point guard Delon Wright at No. 20 in the 2015 NBA Draft, as a possible backup, maybe future replacement for All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. Wright could still be very valuable for the Raptors going forward, but it was their second round pick of Norman Powell out of UCLA that has proven to be one of the bigger steals of the draft.

What Toronto probably should have done instead of going after Wright at No. 20 is take an intriguing wing in UNLV’s Rashad Vaughn. He went to Milwaukee at No. 17 as a potentially strong outside shooter for a poor shooting Bucks team.

While Vaughn didn’t really move the needle as a rookie with the Bucks, he would have provided wing depth to a Raptors team that could be very bleak in that area as soon as next year. Losing 2014-15 NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams to the Lakers didn’t help.

Could Toronto’s other All-Star in shooting guard DeMar DeRozan make his way back home to Los Angeles this summer? Where would that leave the Raptors going forward? Would that make general manager Masai Ujiri increasingly likely to pull the plug and undergo a rebuilding process in Canada?

Vaughn wasn’t available during the 2015 NBA Draft, but falls into the Raptors lap in this re-draft one year later. Being that the Raptors probably need to be proactive in acquiring back court depth, this pick of Vaughn is totally understandable.

Next: 21. Dallas Mavericks

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