The 2007-08 season was a small step backwards for the Raptors. Finishing right at the .500 mark, there were chemistry and injury problems plaguing the Raps throughout the season.
The start of the season saw two double=digit wins in the first three games. A trouncing of the Nets and a solid win over the Sixers proved that the Raptors had what it took to take the next step.
Their third game against the Celtics was one of the best regular-season games in the NBA. The Celtics managed to squeeze out a three point victory because of a last-second shot by Ray Allen, when the game was on the cusp of going into double overtime. The Raptors could have had a chance to end the game before the first overtime if Carlos Delfino had known they had a remaining timeout in the last few seconds to reset their offense.
After the impressive start, the Raptors started to have numerous injuries to key players like TJ Ford, Chris Bosh, and Jorge Garbajosa. Unlike the previous season, the Raptors could not keep up with other teams without their key players, and started losing a lot of games.
Even after most of their players returned from injuries, a point guard controversy between Ford and Jose Calderon tore the Raptors apart, and the underachieving Raptors stumbled into the playoffs as the sixth seed. Playing against a team—the Orlando Magic—the Raptors had beaten in the regular season when on their game, Toronto was trounced in five.
Fearing a repeat of the chemistry problems, Bryan Colangelo orchestrated a trade to rectify the point-guard glut and bring in a man to solve the Raptors' key problems—rebounding and interior defense.
The Raptors traded TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and a first-round draft pick for a player they felt could team up with Chris Bosh to form one of the most potent front courts in the East. (See the article The Toronto Raptors: Jermaine O'Neal Deal Analysis.)
The Chris Bosh/Jermaine O'Neal Era:
| 8 | Hassan Adams | F | 6-4 | 220 | 06/20/1984 | Arizona | 1 |
| 7 | Andrea Bargnani | C-F | 7-0 | 250 | 10/26/1985 | Italy | 2 |
| 4 | Chris Bosh | F | 6-10 | 230 | 03/24/1984 | Georgia Tech | 5 |
| 1 | Primoz Brezec (FA) | C | 7-1 | 255 | 10/02/1979 | Slovenia | 7 |
| 8 | Jose Calderon | G | 6-3 | 210 | 09/28/1981 | Spain | 3 |
| 20 | Carlos Delfino (FA) | G | 6-6 | 230 | 08/29/1982 | Argentina | 4 |
| 14 | Joey Graham | F | 6-7 | 225 | 06/11/1982 | Oklahoma State | 3 |
| 43 | Kris Humphries | F | 6-9 | 235 | 02/06/1985 | Minnesota | 4 |
| Nathan Jawai | F | 6-10 | 280 | 10/10/1986 | Midland Coll. TX (J.C.) | R | |
| 24 | Jason Kapono | F | 6-8 | 215 | 02/04/1981 | UCLA | 5 |
| 33 | Jamario Moon | F | 6-8 | 205 | 06/13/1980 | Meridian CC (MS) | 1 |
| Jermaine O'Neal | F-C | 6-11 | 260 | 10/13/1978 | Eau Claire HS (SC) | 12 | |
| 18 | Anthony Parker | G-F | 6-6 | 215 | 06/19/1975 | Bradley | 5 |
| Willie Solomon | G | 6-1 | 185 | 07/20/1978 | Clemson | 1 | |
| Roko Ukic | G | 6-5 | 183 | 05/12/1984 | Croatia | R |
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