This past summer was an eventful one for the Toronto Raptors, who welcome nine new faces to a roster largely turned over from a year ago. Among the many new additions for the Dinos is Hedo Turkoglu, a clutch playoff scorer coming over from the Orlando Magic.
The Raptors are coming off a disappointing 33-49 season, fourth in the Atlantic division and out of the playoffs, a result partly due to heightened expectations and overall poor play.
Jay Triano enters his first full season as head coach with an improved, tougher and more athletic Raptors squad. Triano replaced Sam Mitchell after an 8-9 start last season, compiling a 25-40 record over the course of the year. Toronto finished the season on a high note, winning nine of their final 13 games.
All-Star forward Chris Bosh bulked up over the summer, perhaps atonement to his looming free agency in 2010 and more importantly, in hopes of getting the Raptors back into the playoffs after they missed the cut last year.
Is Turkoglu a Difference Maker?
Newcomer Turkoglu joins the Raptors after a four-team sign-and-trade during the off-season that sent Shawn Marion out of Toronto. Turkoglu brings an offensive element to this year's team that they've needed for several seasons, someone capable of providing clutch scoring down the stretch and also someone able to take the heat off star players Bosh and Andrea Bargnani every now and then.
Turkoglu averaged 16.8 points-per-game (ppg), 5.3 rebounds (rpg) and 4.9 assists (apg) last season for the Magic and slightly less in the playoffs (15.8 ppg in 24 games) during the team's magical run to the NBA Finals where they lost to the L.A. Lakers in five games.
Turkoglu inked a five-year, $53 million deal shortly after the trade was made official, giving the Raptors a pure scorer they've been lacking for years.
Will the Raptors Make the Playoffs After Falling Short Last Season?
All signs point to yes.
Toronto has a solid shot at making the post-season in the weak but ever-improving Eastern Conference. Outside of perennial favourites Boston, Cleveland and Orlando, there aren't many 'for-sure' teams so it's anyone's game.
Bosh posted strong numbers again last season (22.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 16 30+ point games) and along with the rapid progression of Bargnani (15.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg), Toronto has a solid core to build around.
Point guard Jose Calderon had the league's best assist-to-turnover ratio last season (4.24) and has since entering the NBA in 2005-2006 (career 4.08 ratio). Calderon averaged a career high 12.8 ppg and 8.9 apg last season while hitting 49.7% of his shots.
The Raptors brought in Bosh's former Georgia Tech teammate Jarrett Jack, signing him to a four-year, $20 million contract. Jack averaged 13.1 ppg last season with the Indiana Pacers.
Rookie DeMar DeRozan, the ninth overall pick in 2009, will be given every chance to be the starting shooting guard, replacing Anthony Parker, who joined Cleveland as a free agent. DeRozan gives the Raptors athletic ability they sorely lacked last season and in years past.
New acquisition Reggie Evans adds much-needed toughness at power forward.
Overall Outlook
The Raptors have the makings of a playoff contender, the major question is whether the many new faces can gel together. It's a quality bunch of players so chances are, things will work out with Toronto making a return to the post-season after last year's disappointment.
And once in the playoffs, anything can happen.
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