9. Toronto Raptors – Danny Green, North Carolina
With the 9th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Danny Green.
In my opinion, Danny Green is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. In this version of the league, a player like Danny Green is exactly the kind of player you want to surround stars with. He is “3-and-D” personified. And that is a big reason that Danny has been apart of two championship teams in the last six years (2014 and 2019).
For his career, Green averages 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, all while posting 42-40-81 splits and a 13 PER. Green is another guy who can come off the bench and immediately change the game with his shooting ability. He shoots the 3 at an elite level, and for a time even held the record for most 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals series. In 2014 he broke the record that was held by Ray Allen but has since been broken again by someone who may appear later on this list.
And Green is not just a shooter. He has become one of the best lockdown perimeter defenders in the league. He put this on display in the 2019 Finals when he was tasked with defending Steph Curry.
He is currently playing a crucial role in another title-contending team with the Lakers. If and when this season resumes play, it would not be surprising to see Danny Green playing important minutes in the Finals once again.