The Raptors Offseason thus far..

After loosing their career guy in Chris Bosh (who is now the number 3 guy in Miami with Wade and James, and in hindsight much less of a difference maker than Vince was) it is now looking like the type of Raptors team that could still be very much a player in the Easter Conference Playoff picture next season.  I can see this team fighting with New York/Cleveland/Charlotte for that 8th spot.

As of this morning the depth Chart is looking like it will be this:

Toronto Raptors 2010/11

Point Guard: Jarret Jack - Bobby Brown

Shooting Guard: DeMar DeRozan - Leandro Barbosa - Marco Belinelli

Small Forward: Matt Barnes - Sonny Weems - Linas Kleiza*

Power Forward: Amir Johnson - Ed Davis - Reggie Evans

Center: Andrea Bargnani - Joey Dorsey

I would really love to see Reggie Evans kept for the continued mentoring of Davis and Johnson, as well as Marco Belinelli for the compliment to Bargnani at his new position at the 4th spot.

As for the next to leave, i’d say it is a good a bet as any that Calderon, Banks and Jones (Acquired with Barbosa) are shown the door in exchange for added depth at the wing (Klezia*), a starting centre (to move Bargnani to the 4th spot ahead of Johnson) or a legititmate back-up point guard in Bobby Brown.

I see this team as being young in the right places to build for future years as well as possessing the right peices to rebuild and generate playoff hype in the short-term.

FIRST ROUND RAPTORS

Before taking a look at the Raptors squad, I originally guessed the team this year had 6, but surprsingly the 2009-10 Raptors have 11 FIRST ROUND PICKS (and 2 Undrafted Players):

Rasho Nesterovic

Hedo Turkoglu

Chris Bosh

Marcus Banks

Antoine Wright

Jarret Jack

Andrea Bargnani

Patrick O’Byrant

Quincy Douby

Marco Belinelli

DeMar DeRozan

Jose Calderon and Reggie Evans went Undrafted.

TS: I believe with this situation, the Raptors have can have two perspectives: one being these players still have either the best basketball of their career ahead of them or are already perennial players and will make an extremely positive impact, or the players who are stars will continue to perform at their peaks, players never break the starting rotation, and will be forced to flourish on other teams. With the Raptors I will not make any predictions just yet, in terms of standings placing, but I will gather that this team will sure as hell be exciting to watch.

Step 2: Raptors complete deal for Turkoglu

Not even 24 hours after the Toronto Raptors announced an extension to C Andrea Bargnani; they complete the deal for the next piece in the team’s long-term (European) by core in bringing in Mr. Clutch-shot: Hedo Turkoglu.

Press Release

TS: Yes, this is the best deal of Brian Colangelo’s tenure as Toronto Raptors’ General Manager - and could pan out to be the top deal in the team’s 14 year history. Here’s why: 1) Raptors get a guy who love to take the final shot (on team where other players seemed to shy away), 2) Raptors potentially keep most of their free agents (maybe not Parker, but not have the flexibility), and 3) trade limited players and receive players to add to their back court depth which has proven to be non-existent in the past few seasons.

BC still has move moves to make, but this team’s starting line-up will include 3 long-term staying European 3-point shooters, spread throughout the 1-3-5 spots, All-Star Chris Bosh at the 4 - and the 2 spot is currently either their young 9th pick in DeMar DeRozan or anyone else available that BC deals for.  Makes for exciting basketball to watch - come October.

This deal does leave the Raptors front court not as deep, or intimidating as the 2008 offseason did - with the addition of Jermaine O’Neal to assist Bosh, its clear, but sources indicate Raptors make look to bring back Rasho Nesterovic as their next target.