<P> Subsequent to the expansion draft, the Raptors landed the seventh pick in the NBA draft lottery, behind their fellow 1995 expansion club, the Vancouver Grizzlies . Thomas selected Damon Stoudamire, a point guard out of Arizona, around whom the franchise would seek to construct its near future . However, the selection of Stoudamire was met with boos from fans at the 1995 NBA draft at the SkyDome in Toronto, many of whom wanted Ed O'Bannon of UCLA, an NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player . </P> <P> In the team's first official NBA game, Alvin Robertson scored the first NBA points in Raptors history, while Stoudamire recorded 10 points and 10 assists in a 94--79 victory over the New Jersey Nets . The Raptors concluded their inaugural season with a 21--61 win--loss record, although they were one of the few teams to defeat the Chicago Bulls, who set a then all - time NBA best 72--10 win--loss regular season record . With averages of 19.0 points and 9.3 assists per game, Stoudamire also won the 1995--96 Rookie of the Year Award . </P> <P> In November of the 1996--97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement, giving Slaight 79% control of the team, and remaining minority partner of the Bank of Nova Scotia (10%), Thomas (9%) Peterson (1%) and Granovsky (1%). Slaight subsequently acquired the 1%, which had been owned by both Peterson and Granovsky, who had died a year earlier . The team improved on its win record by nine games . They selected centre Marcus Camby with the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft . By the end of the season, Camby earned a berth on the NBA's All - Rookie Team, while Stoudamire continued to play well, averaging 20.2 points and 8.8 assists per game . As in the previous season, the Raptors were one of only 11 teams to topple the eventual 1997 Champions, the Chicago Bulls . The Raptors also defeated the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Miami Heat, all of which were eventual Conference finalists . However, the Raptors struggled against teams who were not of championship calibre, including three losses to the 15--67 Boston Celtics . </P> <P> In the 1997--98 season, the team suffered numerous injuries and slid into a 17 - game losing streak . After Thomas' attempts to execute a letter of intent with Slaight to purchase the team failed, he resigned his position with the team in November and sold his 9% stake in the team to Slaight . This left Slaight with 90% and the Bank of Nova Scotia with 10% . Thomas was replaced by Glen Grunwald as GM . With Thomas gone, Stoudamire immediately sought a trade . On February 13, 1998, he was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers for Kenny Anderson, Alvin Williams, Gary Trent, two first - round draft choices, a second - round draft choice and cash . Anderson refused to report to Toronto and was traded to the Celtics with Žan Tabak and Popeye Jones for Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, Roy Rogers and John Thomas . When the trading deadline was over, the Raptors became the youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.6 years . They had five rookies on their roster, including the 18 - year - old Tracy McGrady, who at the time was the youngest player in the NBA . The inexperienced Raptors struggled throughout the season and their regular season record regressed to 16--66 . </P>

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