History Offers A Mixed Bag If Raptors Pick Eighth

Former Raptor T.J. Ford was selected eighth overall by the Bucks in 2003

He is six-foot-five inches tall.

He played in the NBA for about six years and averaged 9.6 points per game with just under four rebounds (3.93) per contest.

He is Mr. Eight, the statistical composite of the players chosen eighth in the NBA draft.

We looked at 32 players drafted in the eighth spot since 1980 and found…

1. Mr. Eight doesn’t play centre. Rafael Araujo (Toronto), DeSagana Diop (Cleveland), Adonal Foyle (Golden State) and Olden Polynice (Chicago) are the only true pivots selected eighth. There were 16 forwards and 12 guards selected.

2. Only one, DeSagana Diop (2001) was a seven-footer.

3. He played in the league. Every eighth overall draft choice played in the NBA. The most recent three players drafted in that spot — Brandon Knight, Al-Farouq Aminu and Jordan Hill — are still cutting their teeth but they will chase Schrempf who played 1,136 games for Dallas, Indiana, Seattle and Portland.

4. He is not a 20-point per night guy. Clark Kellogg (1982, Indiana) was closest with a career points per game average of 18.9. Tom Chambers (1981, San Diego, 18.1) Rudy Gay (2006, Houston, 17.8 ), Andrew Toney (1980, Philadelphia, 15.9), Jamal Crawford (2000, 15.4, Cleveland) and Vin Baker (1993, 15.0, Milwaukee) have a career PPG mark of 15 points or better.

5. He can rebound. In a career limited to 260 games because of knee injuries, Kellogg hauled down 9.5 rebounds per game. Brian Grant (1994, Sacramento) and Vin Baker (1993, Milwaukee) hauled down 7.4 boards per game, next best among the eights.

6. His scoring is consistent with his rebounding. Mr. Eight’s 9.6 points per game would put him as the 160th most prolific point-scorer in the 2011-2012 season. His 3.9 rebounds per game would rank him 154th.

7. Based on those averages, Mr. Eight looks an awful lot like a cross between Linas Kleiza and Hedo Turkoglu.

8. He probably doesn’t win a championship. Only Ron Harper (five titles) and Andrew Toney (one) earned a ring.

Building the perfect eight. Eight body parts pulled from number eight picks.

Eyes: Andre Miller (DEN). Tremendous vision has allowed the 12-year-vet to dish out 7.2 assists per year. Miller can find a shot; he has averaged 14 points a game.

Brain: Detlef Schrempf (retired 2001). Two-time winner of the sixth-man award, Schrempf helped invent the towering euro three-point guy. International business major now a wealth manager in Seattle.

Hands: Clark Kellogg (retired 1987). Devastating knee troubles ended Kellogg’s NBA career after just 260 games but he averaged 18.9 points and 9.5 boards in parts of five NBA seasons.

Shoulders: DeSagana Diop (CHA). Massive shoulders carried Diop, who turned to the game at 15, to better than 500 NBA games.

Heart: Ron Harper (retired 2001). Fierce defender and nerveless jump shooter won three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and two more with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Feet: TJ Ford (retired 2012). Incredible footspeed allowed the one-time Raptor to penetrate defences at will. Ford retired in March due to neck and spinal injuries. His 7.9 assists struck with the 2006-2007 Raptors was a career best.

Butt: Brian Grant (retired 2006). Grant used his cargo area to thrive in the low post for five teams over 12 seasons and pulled down more than 7.4 rebounds per game.

Legs: Rudy Gay (MEM). Highlight-reel hops has made Gay a money-in-the-bank 18-20 point per game scorer.