Toronto Raptors: 30 Teams in 30 Days

2008 Statistics

Finished 33-49, fourth in Atlantic Divison, 13th in Eastern Conference, missed postseason

Key Additions

Hedo Turkoglu via free agency, DeMar DeRozan via draft, Reggie Evans via trade, Jarrett Jack via free agency, Amir Johnson via trade, Rasho Nesterovic via free agency, Sonny Weems via trade, Antoine Wright via trade, Marco Belineli via trade

Key Losses

Shawn Marion via free agency, Anthony Parker via free agency, Jason Kapono via trade, Carlos Delfino via trade

The Toronto Raptors have never been regarded as a contender. They have been in the league for going on their 15th season now and have yet to make a postseason run or ring up a 50-plus win season. They brought basketball to the northern frontier of Canada, but they have yet to bring them anything more than an average or below average season.

The Raptors have failed to make it past the second round and only made it to the semifinals in the 2000-'01 season, which was also when they posted their best record of 47-35.

They made it to the postseason the past two consecutive years, but all the glory of making an appearance in the playoffs is gone now, as Toronto has to work from the ground up again after recording only 33 wins.

Over the offseason though, Toronto made a number of moves to improve the team without having to lose any of it's top players.

They are obviously living in the present and trying to become a legitimate threat in the Eastern conference, which they have rarely ever been. In light of last season's performance, the Raptors improved their starting lineup mightily by bringing in Hedo Turkoglu.

Turkoglu exerted some of his true potential last year as one of the NBA's top clutch players. Throughout the regular season, as well as the postseason, he came up big for the Orlando Magic making a number of critical shots in the waning moments of a game.

He averaged 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists last year, while also making nearly two three-pointers per game. Turkoglu should fit in well with the Raptors and could be the piece that the team needed to make it past their regular season failures.

Turk wasn't the only forward the Raptors managed to pick up. They also drafted one of the most talented players in the draft in DeMar DeRozan.

He is capable of playing as a shooting guard and small forward and even drew comparisons to Kobe Bryant in his college days. He has great athleticism, a solid mid-range game, and a great rebounding average for someone of his size at 6'7".

He averaged 14 points and six rebounds in his final season at USC.

DeRozan could see starting time as soon as next year with the Raptors lack of depth at the shooting guard spot. They managed to bring Marco Belinelli in as a possible option, but for the Raptors to truly become a legitimate contender, they'll need to play DeRozan as much as they can.

He has the potential to become one of the most solid players out of this draft and if the Raptors can harness that youth in the right way, DeRozan could be an all-star in a few years.

If you take a hard look at the Raptors starting lineup, you can say that it's actually a solid roster. They have one of the top point guards in Jose Calderon and a top five power forward in Chris Bosh, not to mention a center that is starting to break out of his shell.

Toronto is going have to do a lot of convincing to keep Chris Bosh on their side after 2010. Bosh has stated that he plans to leave when he becomes a free agent and the crowd has shown displeasure with him, especially last season when he was jeered at by his home crowd at times.

Taken in the historic 2003 draft, Bosh has emerged as a top power forward of the league and could rank as No. 1 if he becomes a leader and still averages numbers like he has been for the past few years.

Over the past four seasons, Bosh has averaged 22 and 23 points while putting up more than 10 rebounds per game in two of those seasons.

The problem he faces as a power forward is his strength. He is not one of the strongest in the league and has trouble against stronger power forwards.

His blocking percentage could go up as well, as he only averages one per game.

Despite all this, Bosh has become one of the top players in the league and it's going to be tough for Toronto if they lose him.

The team's point guard Jose Calderon has also emerged as a solid, top point guard, especially after having the best year of his young career last season.

He averaged 13 points and nine assists, while shooting nearly 50 percent, which is always fantastic for a guard. There have been no signs of Calderon leaving anytime soon, so the Raptors do not have to worry too much about signing another point guard in the near future.

Andrea Bargnani has been declared a bust a number of times after being taken with the No. 1 pick three years ago, but last year he showed a little promise.

He had to take on the role of a starting center when the team traded away Jermaine O'Neal, and he did considerably well.

His scoring was solid at 15 points per game, but there is such a downside to his rebounding and blocking averages that it completely turns you off from his offensive production.

At only five rebounds and one block per game, the numbers Bargnani put's up for being a seven foot center is unacceptable. He is projected to be the starter once against next year and will have to improve his rebounding and blocking ability if he no longer wants to be labeled a bust.

The Raptors bench was much improved this offseason, as they managed to bring in a number of reliable role players.

Antoine Wright, Jarrett Jack, and Marco Belinelli are all solid contributors who will cause an impact for the better off the bench. Wright has been coming off the bench for his career and averaged a career high seven points last year.

Jarrett Jack on the other hand has experience as a starter, and the role of a bench player is pretty new to him. He has been a starter since he came into the league and averaged a career high 13 points last year, as well as four assists per game.

Jack is going to be a solid backup to Calderon as a point guard.

Belinelli is going into his third year and could be the potential starter, but for now he is listed as the second option at the shooting guard spot. He has shown flashes of being a solid player down the road, but for now he still has much to improve on.

Marco averaged nine points for the Warriors last season and has had injuries over his two years in the league.

The Raptors are a team looking to finally gain a voice in the NBA world and this might be their best chance to prove it as they are now stacked on talent.

It could also be their last chance to prove it for a while due to the 2010 free agency that is looming around the corner. Toronto needs to take advantage of what it has now and needs to have the best season in franchise history if it wants to keep Bosh and other contributors around for years to come.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Jose Calderon

SG-DeMar DeRozan

SF-Hedo Turkoglu

PF-Chris Bosh

C-Andrea Bargnani

This is Pt. 28 of a 30-day series of 2009-10 season previews of each NBA team. My profile will contain every other team that has been previewed before.