The Rap Up: Three years and an extension later, is Terrence Ross what the Raptors need?

Three years after being selected with the 8th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Terrence Ross has shown flashes of greatness, but hasn't been a mainstay in the Raptors' starting lineup.

Ross got a chance to display his game as a starter in his sophomore year and last season, his third in the league, splitting time with James Johnson at small forward. While he showed improvement in his second year, he seemingly regressed last season and took another step back this year.

Fundamentally, Ross is as sound as it gets. Good-looking jumper, decent ball-handling skills, a quick first step, and the ability to get to the rim and finish with authority. But Ross has not been able to bring those assets to the table on a nightly basis, and his role in the Raptors offence depends on his overall form for the night. When he's on, he's on, as displayed by his franchise-record 51 points in 2013-14. But when he's off, he finishes games with 0 points on 10 shot attempts.

Watching Ross, he seems to have all the athletic ability and instincts you need for a slashing two-guard. But at times, Ross doesn't seem to play with high energy, and tends to go invisible during his stints on the court. Defensively, Ross isn't exactly an asset to the team either.

In early November, the deadline to extend players with rookie contracts loomed. Ross and the Raptors came to an agreement on a three-year, $31 million extension just minutes before the deadline. Since that extension, Ross has been underwhelming, averaging under 6 points per game on 35% shooting.

View photos Credit: Basketball-Reference More

Looking back at the 2012 draft, Ross was sandwiched between Harrison Barnes, a starter on the defending champion Warriors, and Andre Drummond, the most talented rebounder the league has seen in a while, who's having a breakout season with the Pistons. With the production he's put up to date, Ross' value isn't where the team had hoped, yet he's shown flashes of brilliance that warranted the extension the Raptors gave him.

Ross has seen a decline in minutes with DeMarre Carroll manning the starting 3 spot, going from 25 minutes per game to a shade over 20 this season. Ross was expected to take on Lou Williams' role as an energetic scoring sixth man this season, but has been asked to fill in for Carroll with the newly-signed swingman's injury-riddled start to the season.

View photos TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 5: Terrence Ross #31 of the Toronto Raptors dunks against the Golden State Warriors on December 5, 2015 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) More

Story continues