Preview courtesy of Stu Holdren @ NBANoise

Key Additions:
Hedo Turkoglu (trade)
Jarrett Jack (free agency)
Marco Belinelli (trade)
DeMar DeRozan (draft)
Rasho Nesterovic (signing)
Reggie Evans (trade)
Amir Johnson (trade)
Antoine Wright (trade)

Key Losses:
Shawn Marion (trade)
Jason Kapono (trade)
Anthony Parker (free agency)
Pops Mensah-Bonsu (free agency)
Kris Humphries (trade)
Roko Ukic (trade)

The Breakdown:
The Toronto Raptors are coming off of what only could be described as a disappointing season. Only a year removed from a .500 season and sixth seed in the Eastern playoffs, the Raptors stumbled to a 33-49 record good only for the title of “third worst” in the East. This season, the Raptors are hoping for a bold turnaround after giving their roster a major overhaul.

While the cornerstones of the Raptors are still in place, the most notable addition is that of Hedo Turkoglu. Acquired by the Raptors in a deal that sign-and-trade deal that sent Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries packing, Turkoglu adds another potent offensive weapon to their lineup. Turkoglu boosted his stock value in the postseason by playing a huge part in the Magic’s NBA Finals run, including averaging 18 points per game in the hard-fought series against the Lakers. Turkoglu will add much to this Toronto team, as he will aide Chris Bosh in their inside/outside game, and will be their primary perimeter scoring threat as he is very capable of creating his own shot. The Raptors also help he can bring some of his winning ways to Toronto.

Toronto Raptors 2009-2010 Preview (media)

The Raptors will be able to play lineups that create major matchup problems. Imagine them running a frontcourt of Andrea Bargnani (7′-0″), Bosh (6′10″) and Turkoglu (6′10″). Add in the versatility of their combined offensive games, and they could be giving opposing defenses fits. While such a lineup could leave them somewhat vulnerable defensively, Turkoglu has proven to be capable at guarding smaller, more athletic forwards.

Fans at the Air Canada Centre will be paying close attention to their team programs this year, as the majority of their team will be made up of new faces. Along with Turkoglu, the starting lineup may also see the addition Marco Belinelli (yet another European player – what is it with Colangelo’s Euro-fetish?). The Raptors are also excited about rookie swingman DeMar DeRozan, who should give Toronto some high-flying action to look forward to for years to come. They also added some solid role players such as Reggie Evans and Rasho Nesterovic (who should fit in well for spot minutes) and some young talent with untapped potential in Amir Johnson and Antoine Wright.

But the addition that should pay the highest dividends is the signing of Jarrett Jack. The Raptors haven’t had a solid back-up point guard since the T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon battles. Jack has starting experience with both Portland and Indiana, but is also the type of player that can easily integrate himself into a team as a backup. While he’s a bit turnover prone, Jack is a hard-nosed player on both ends of the court and is a fantastic competitor. Certainly an upgrade from last year’s backups of Roko Ukic and Will Soloman, that’s for sure.

The Prediction:
I like what the Raptors have done this offseason. What they had clearly wasn’t working, so a big change was very necessary. Their new additions added depth, versatility and experience, which should translate into a much improved season. I expect the Raptors to climb back above the .500 mark this season and find themselves in the playoffs yet again.

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