Toronto Raptors (33-49)
New Accusations: Marco Belinelli, Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems, Reggie Evans, Hedo Turkoglo, Jarret Jack and Antoine Wright
Rookie/Rookies: Demar Derozan 1st round (9th pick)The busiest team this summer getting a handful of new players filling up half of the team but the most notable player would have to be Hedo who delivered Orlando its second visit to the NBA finals. I can say they got the steal of the draft on Demar Derozan a freak athlete who can provide the intensity and needed offense at 6-foot-7 he could have benefited another year in college but opt to go to the NBA to take care of his mother’s illness that’s why he slid down to the ninth pick. Gelling will be the Raptors main problem with 8 new faces in their roster but with still two months to go that won’t be a problem.
Here’s a sentence I haven’t had to write in a long time (perhaps ever): The Toronto Raptors will be scary this season.
Yes, yes, I know. They were the laughingstock of the Atlantic Division in 2008-09 (along with the Knicks), finishing 33-49 and haven’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2001 — and they have never been past the second.
And the Raptors were just as bad as that sounds last season, ranking 16th in offense and 20th in defense. They managed just 40 rebounds a game and hit six 3-pointers per game, the seventh-worst mark in the league.
So what gives? Much.
Marcus Banks from the Toronto Raptors just showed up at the V Bar! Smoke and Sound Tuesday blowin up! Come to the VBar in the Venetian!
Andris Biedrins + Speedy Claxton + Acie Law to the Toronto Raptors for…
Chris Bosh [ESPN Trade Machine]
Raptors get: To save themselves from the embarrassment of Bosh ditching them on the open market in the summer of 2010.
Warriors get: A great young starry eyed power forward.
