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- The Toronto Raptors are in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
- Much of the Raptors' core were acquired in trades over the years, including Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka.
- The Raptors have also been excellent at drafting, getting several rotation players late in the draft or signing undrafted players to the roster.
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The Toronto Raptors are in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
One year ago, this would have sounded ludicrous. Last season, after a franchise-best 59 wins, the Raptors were swept out of the playoffs by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, raising major questions about their future.
Raptors GM Masai Ujiri decided to re-tool the team. He made the call on the bold Kawhi Leonard trade, sending franchise star DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs. He also went all-in mid-season by trading for All-Star center Marc Gasol.
But while trades equipped the Raptors with star players, they also were in a position to make those moves because of their excellent drafting. The Raptors don't have a single player on the roster who was taken in the lottery. Furthermore, several of their best rotation players were picked in the 20s, the second round, or went un-drafted entirely.
Here's how the Raptors built the best team in the East and a potential threat to the Golden State Warriors: