Rafael Araujo

Rafael Araujo - Araujo is not listed because he is retired, but because he was. The man now known as Babby Araujo, been back in Brazil ever since leaving the NBA, retired from the game in March of last year and expressed his intent to write a book. It is not known how the book thing has gone. But in October of this year, Araujo ended his retirement after only six months, signing with Moga das Cruzes and averaging 14.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game thus far this season.

[...] The reaction to Ross's pick is the closest thing yet to stunned silence. Even more so than for the Waiters pick; at least that one was vaguely rumoured. It's also perhaps still in the minds of the audience that the last time the Raptors surprised us at #8, they picked Rafael Araujo, a man who recently retired from the game in order to write a book about how unpleasant the game was for him. Nevertheless, Ross's selection is only a bit of a reach, and he has upside to his game. Frame, athleticism, a sweet shot and a decent basketball IQ. The holes in his skill set can come later - in fact, even if they don't, and he makes his living as a shooting specialist, it'll do.

- Rafael Araujo

Araujo, whose nickname should really be "Epic Fail", is back in his native Brazil, signed with Paulistano. Put a space in the right place, and that becomes a believable name for a hitman. Brazilian statistics are a bit difficult to find, and it doesn't help that he seems to now exclusively be known as "Baby." But as far as I can tell, he was averaging 13.5 rebounds and 8.7 rebounds per game. (If anyone can read Portuguese, feel free to construct a better translation.) At the very least, here's a recent shot chart of his. He's red number 55.

Araujo was never THAT bad. Below average, yes, and a monumentally bad draft pick at #8. But he has NBA talent, if only as a 12th man. This is about as much balance redressing as I can muster.

He's 29 years old now.