When the Raptors finally parted ways with franchise legend Kyle Lowry in the 2021 offseason, Toronto completed a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat that brought veteran Goran Dragic and young forward Precious Achiuwa up north. <\/p>\n
Dragic quickly became a non-factor, showing little urgency to play for a team he believed was far from his “higher ambitions,” and soon he became public enemy number one in Toronto at that time. In fact, I just highlighted how Dragic reached the final showdown for the most disliked Toronto athlete of the last 25 years, with Raptors legend Vince Carter ultimately taking that spot<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Achiuwa, on the other hand, presented intrigue for Raptors fans, and I was definitely excited to see what he could bring to Toronto. As a guy just entering his second NBA season, his rookie campaign in Miami wasn\u2019t anything special, but I had high hopes that Achiuwa would fit well within Toronto\u2019s emerging young core \u2014 alongside guys like Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. \u2014 with experienced vets like Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam still in the mix.<\/p>\n Achiuwa had his highlights \u2014 earning a starting role in Toronto and being named to the 2022 Rising Stars Game \u2014 but it quickly became clear that he wouldn’t be the breakout star many hoped would emerge from the Kyle Lowry trade. <\/p>\n What happened to former Raptors player Precious Achiuwa?<\/p>\n Although there was hope he could develop into one of the Raptors’ top defenders, there was still a lot of work to do before he could become a real threat. I remember the growing frustration among fans over some of Achiuwa’s poor basketball IQ and limitations as a big man. His focus on improving his three-point shooting was commendable, but he often went through stretches where his shot was simply ineffective. <\/p>\n