--Going with a less-is-more philosophy, the Raptors are likely to carry the league-minimum 13 players this season. One of the issues with the team last season was trying to deal with a glut of equally talented swingmen, and culling some of the roster will give coach Sam Mitchell a more well defined rotation.
--Look for the Raptors to fill out the end of the roster with a trio of unheralded players. It's expected that former second-round draft pick Roko Ukic will join the team after playing last year in Spain, and Toronto wants to find another point guard and a backup swingman -- both for minimum wage -- after scouting the various summer leagues. QUOTE TO NOTE: "When I sat out all those games last year, it was a career move. I knew what the situation was. I knew what the significance of me staying away from the game, rehabbing the leg and getting the knee back to its normal usage was." -- Jermaine O'Neal on playing only 42 games last season.
