The New Look 2015-2016 Toronto Raptors

Defence. That’s what Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri has focused on all offseason. Rightfully so, considering how the team crashed and burned in the playoffs last year after winning a franchise record 49 wins in the regular season. The end of the 2014-2015 season left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. Getting swept is never easy, but getting dominated in the losing end of a 4 game sweep is a tough pill to swallow. The Raptors were exposed of all their weaknesses in the playoffs, and defence perhaps was the biggest flaw.

After the season came to a close, fans were calling for Head Coach Dwane Casey to be fired. To the dismay of many fans to this day, Coach Casey is here to stay. However, Masai Ujiri has given him the personnel that has the potential to fit well within his system. After being ranked 9th in defensive efficiency in a surprising and successful 2013-2014 season, the Raptors fell to 23rd in the 2014-2015 season. GM Ujiri has made several changes that reflect not only a change of personnel, but a change of culture.

Masai started off by trading back-up point guard Greivis Vasquez to the Milwaukee Bucks for the 46^th pick in the 2015 draft (which would later become Summer League stud Norman Powell) and the Clippers 2017 1^st round draft pick. This was largely a move to clear cap space, but also a move to trade one of the weakest defensive players on last year’s team. Using the 20^th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Masai Ujiri drafted PG Delon Wright from Utah, an NBA ready point guard known for his tenacious defense. The early moves of the offseason clearly indicated what was to come for the Toronto Raptors.

“Winning fixes everything.” At least that’s what they say. The Raptors have posted back-to-back winning seasons these past two years, and the league and its players have taken notice. The Raptors were one of the teams premiere free agent LaMarcus Aldridge had on his list of teams to meet and consider signing with. Five years ago, this notion was laughable. Of course, Aldridge signed with the San Antonio Spurs, but the Raptors being considered by the stars of this league is a small victory which may pay off for the franchise in the near future. The Raptors lost out on Aldridge, but Masai Ujiri had his plans already.

On the first day of free agency, the Raptors signed Demarre Carroll to a 4 year $60 million contract. Some say that Carroll is getting overpaid, but he fills a need that the Raptors definitely lacked last year. He provides a true “3+D” role at the small forward position, combined with the ability to slide to the power forward position in small-ball lineups. Overpaid or not, Demarre Carroll fills a need. Masai’s other big free agent pickup is not only a valuable signing in terms of upgrading the roster, but a feel good story for Canadian basketball. The Raptors signed point guard Cory Joseph to a 4 year $30 million contract, effectively filling the backup point guard position recently vacated after the departure of Greivis Vasquez. Not only does Joseph add some defensive tenacity to the point guard position, but he is also a Pickering, Ontario native and the second Canadian player to play for the Raptors. The first player to do so was Toronto native Jamaal Magloire (who now works for the team), but that was during the tail end of his career. Cory Joseph will be the first Canadian player to don the Raptors uniform while entering into the better years of his career, not only representing his home town, but his home country, helping grow the game of basketball in Canada.

Raptors Free Agent Signing Demarre Carrol Played a Big Role for the #1 Playoff Seed 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks//USA TODAY Sports-John E. Sokolowski

A minor free agency signing was that of 22 year old centre Bismack Biyombo, who departed the Charlotte Hornets to sign a a 2 year, $6 million contract with the Raptors. Biyombo doesn’t provide much on the offensive end, but will be utilized as a great rim protector on a team that did not have one last year. Louis Scola was also signed as a power forward on a 1 year $3 million contract to fill out the frontcourt, adding some much needed veteran presence in the locker room. Current speculation is that Scola will be the starting power forward, allowing Patrick Patterson to keep his role as a key bench player.

While some pieces were added, some were lost. Longtime fan favorite Amir Johnson signed a 2 year $24 million contract with the Boston Celtics, and many Raptor fans were sad to see him go. As much as the Raptors would have probably liked to have kept him, they couldn’t afford to pay him the kind of money the Celtics did, not to mention the lingering ankle issues Amir has had throughout the last 2 years. Another fan favorite, “6 Man” Lou Williams departed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on a 3 year $21 million contract. While many would have welcomed Lou Will back on such a cheap deal, his style of play which focused heavily on isolation plays simply does not fit into the new culture of the Toronto Raptors. Chuck Hayes and Tyler Hansborough recently signed with the Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets, respectively.

The offseason continues but most major transactions are completed. Masai Ujiri has filled out the remaining roster spots with partially guaranteed deals for training camp invites. The roster we see now is most likely the roster we can expect heading into training camp. Will the Raptors be successful? It remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, they’re ready to play some D.