Getting traded to the Toronto Raptors prior to the 2012-13 NBA season was the best thing to ever happen to Kyle Lowry.

After playing supporting roles for the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets during his first six seasons in the league, he's become the leader of the Raptors and one of the best guards in the entire NBA.

Alongside fellow star DeMar DeRozan, Lowry and the Raptors' dynamic backcourt tandem led the team to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this year.

Lowry, who was selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft after his sophomore season at Villanova, averaged a career-high 22.4 points (to go with 7.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds) this year for a strong Raptors squad.

Though Toronto has struggled in its first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks (currently trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series), it's safe to say many NBA teams wish they had seen what the Raptors saw in the 6'0" guard.

Here's what the eight guards who were selected ahead of Lowry in 2006 are up to now:

No. 6: Brandon Roy, Minnesota Timberwolves

Though he was immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, it's hard to fault the selection of Roy at No. 6 overall.

Roy flashed a ton of potential during his six-year NBA career, winning the 2006-07 Rookie of the Year award and averaging 18.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 326 career games.

The problem with Roy was that he could never stay healthy. He missed the entire 2011-12 season due to knee injuries that had hampered him since college and a comeback attempt in 2012-13 with the Timberwolves ended after only five games.

No. 7: Randy Foye, Boston Celtics

Foye was another player who was immediately traded upon being drafted. Foye ended up starting his career with the Timberwolves instead of the Celtics.

Foye played with Lowry at Villanova, but hasn't had the same level of success in the NBA as the Raptors star.

Now a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Foye has played for seven teams in his 10 years in the league, averaging 10.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 752 career games.

No. 11: J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic

Like Lowry, Redick is another player who blossomed later in his career. After playing smaller roles in his seven years with the Magic, Redick is now a key contributor to a strong Los Angeles Clippers team.

Redick averaged 15 points while making a career-high 78 starts for the Clippers this year. The former Duke star and his current teammates are now leading the Utah Jazz 2-1 in a first-round playoff series.

No. 13: Thabo Sefalosha, Philadelphia 76ers

Sefalosha was dealt to the Chicago Bulls on draft night, but didn't really break out until he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder midway through the 2008-09 season.

In the 2009-10 season, Sefalosha started all 82 games for the Thunder, averaging six points and 4.7 rebounds a night.

He currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks, where he's averaging 7.2 points and 4.4 boards a night.

No. 14: Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz

After four years in Utah, Brewer ended up wearing six different jerseys in his eight years in the NBA, averaging 7.8 points in 502 career games.

Brewer was last seen during the 2015-16 season, when he was playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA D-League.

No. 19: Quincy Douby, Sacramento Kings

Douby only lasted for three NBA seasons, playing for the Kings and the Raptors before he was out of the league.

He now plays for Afyonkarahisar Belediyespor in the Turkish basketball league, one of several international stops on his resume.

No. 21: Rajon Rondo, Phoenix Suns

Rondo was drafted by the Suns, but immediately dealt to the Celtics, where he spent his first 8.5 seasons. The point guard out of Kentucky was a key part of Boston's 2007-08 NBA championship team, averaging 10.6 points and 5.1 assists per game.

Since leaving Boston during the 2014-15 season, Rondo has hopped around, flaming out in Dallas before spending last season with the Kings.

Now, just as Rondo was wreaking havoc on the Celtics in the playoffs as a member of the Chicago Bulls, a broken thumb will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the postseason.

No. 22: Marcus Williams, New Jersey Nets

Williams spent just four seasons in the NBA, playing for the Nets, Warriors and Grizzlies before he was out of the league. He averaged 5.6 points, 2.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 203 career games.

Williams now plays for the Cholet Basket in the French League and has been playing overseas since 2010.