DRAFT PICK:
Nathan Jawai, C, 6-10, 280, Australia -- As part of the Jermaine O'Neal trade that can't be announced until July 9, Toronto obtained the rights to Jawai (the 41st pick). He's known as The Aussie Shaq for his considerable bulk, but a nickname is about all he's got that's NBA ready. The expectation is that he will join the club next season in an end-of-the-bench role, and the Raptors hope his bulk and desire will be enough to let him develop into someone able to contribute in a couple of seasons. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Chris Bosh. The three-time all-star missed 15 games with injuries but once again turned out to be Toronto's leading scorer, top rebounder and undisputed leader on the court. He remains the guy they are building the team around.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Andrea Bargnani. The second-year center-power forward regressed in almost every facet of the game. His scoring was down, his rebounding effort and numbers were atrocious for a 7-footer and he has to improve if the team is going to get any better.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Raptors desperately needed help up front, both in rebounding and athleticism, and should get that from Jermaine O'Neal as long as he stays healthy for a change.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Raptors have only one unrestricted free agent, backup big man Primoz Brezec, who won't be back. PG Jose Calderon and SF Carlos Delfino are restricted free agents. Team officials have said they'll match any offer for Calderon, but Delfino might be able to find a new home on the market.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Jose Calderon, a restricted free agent, is expected to sign the minute he can, and Toronto had better hope the deal is indeed done. Trading away T.J. Ford bequeaths the starting point guard role to the 27-year-old Calderon, who'll be entering his fourth NBA season.
--F Carlos Delfino looks like a goner. Given the team's publicly stated desire to reduce the roster and the fact the Raptors will be bumping right up against the luxury-tax level, it's inconceivable that Delfino, a restricted free agent, will be back. Toronto has made a qualifying offer to him to retain the right of first refusal on any offer he gets, but if he can't find the financial terms he wants, Delfino has said he'd go play in Europe.
--F Jorge Garbajosa's Toronto career is over. The team reached a buyout agreement for the last year of the contract with the injured Spanish veteran, who is going to return to his homeland to play. As part of the buyout, Garbajosa gets a little more than half the $4.25 million he was owed for next season.
