Turkoglu, acquired in a blockbuster four-team trade in the off-season, is resting through the early part of training camp after a long run through the playoffs last season with Orlando and then a busy summer spent playing for Turkey.

And by all appearances, he needs it.

"It was very busy," Turkoglu said, his voice lacking any semblance of energy.

"Right now I'm just trying to manage myself and try to look for the long picture and try to be more fresh and more healthy for the long coming season. I don't want to be like this, but in the end it will be the best for the Raptors ."

The Raptors acquired the 30-year-old Turkoglu from Orlando in July, a deal that not only gave Toronto some financial room to move but also a veteran player known for his versatile game.

"He's such a Basketball-savvy player, he's been effective at so many different levels, but the thing that's so notable with him is he makes others on the floor with him better," said Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo.

"He's got playmaking skills but he's 6-10, he can handle the ball, he can play two, three, four (shooting guard, small forward, power forward).

"But when it comes to that experience and savvy, that's going to help this team. We haven't really had a guy to go to late in the game to break down the defence, create a shot for someone else or yourself. Late-game situations, I know he's got that mindset that he knows what to do with the ball."

Turkoglu is coming off a career season that saw him lead Orlando to the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists and started in 77 regular-season games. He shone in the post-season, scoring a career playoff-high 29 points against Cleveland.

He followed up the NBA season by playing for Turkey in the recent European championships.

Now, he could just use some rest.

"There's no point beating him down in October here, after the summer that he had and the last four months that he's played, all the way back to June, pretty intense Basketball," said Raptors coach Jay Triano. "We're just going to ease him back in and make sure we don't wear him down."

Turkoglu also has nagging knee pain from what Colangelo said was quadriceps tendinitis, and so will spend much of camp in the physio room. He's in good company. Team captain Chris Bosh isn't practising after straining his hamstring earlier this month in Dallas.

"I'm going to be looking at Hedo a lot for the next week, and he gets to check out my handsome face all day so I know he can't complain," Bosh said, laughing.