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NLL Insider - Team by Team: Toronto Raptors

by vt, updated on Wednesday, October 20 2010, 08:06 pm EST

Team by Team: Toronto Raptors
2009-2010 Finish: 56-26

What went well

The Toronto Raptors were coming off a golden season where they came from behind 3-0 twice in the playoffs to spike Nick’s Denver Nuggets in a five game Finals. This is a team filled with some of the best players in the league: Kevin Durant, Andrew Bynam and Brandon Roy. So where did the Raptors go after such a glorious season?

GM Juvenile wisely kept the same squad intact that helped him win the championship ring. He re-signed Andrew Bynum to a fat contract and convinced Raymond Felton to re-up for one season before trading him to the Lakers for Tyrus Thomas. Juvenile made only two additions all season: free agents Ronald Murray and Joe Smith. The Raptors were ready to rock again!

And rock they did. They dominated the Eastern Conference, winning more than 50 games. But cracks began to show in the armor. Bynum couldn’t seem to get healthy and a late season injury to Roy hurt the club. Also, in an oddly prescient situation, they lost to the struggling Sixers in four games late in the season.

The Raptors finished the second seed in the Eastern Conference just behind the wounded Milwaukee Bucks. Roy was back to and ready to take down the Sixers in the first round.

What went worse

But the Sixers wouldn’t let history repeat itself and take down the fully healthy Raptors in five games. Was Felton the key piece? Were big contracts and egos beginning to interfere with the young Raptors that took it all the year before? It was time to use the summer to think.

Stars

- Kevin Durant, GF -

Some think Kevin Durant is the best player in the league. Others think he’s the second or third best. No matter, in his three seasons, the young swingman has been progressively better. He played in all 82 games this past season, averaging 18.3ppg. When he heard Juvenile had offered Durant for LBJ, we said, “SAY WHAT?” Good thing he rescinded the offer.


Goats

- Andrew Bynum, C –

It may be unfair to label Bynum a goat, but I hate it when guys sign a big contract and the next thing you know, they’re injured. Bynum managed to play in 65 games this season but that nagging knee is going to carry through to the next season. Watch out!




Looking to the future

The Raptors still have a very good and complete team but there are rumors of discontent out of Toronto. First, there are rumors that Juvenile doesn’t want to pay Roy his extension and is trying to ship him out of town. Also, Kenyon Martin may not be ready to start the season and Juvenile is desperate to give away his $16mil+ salary. Tough times in the Raptors’ bookkeeping department it seems.

Going into the new season, the Raptors are $11 million under the salary cap. Roy will get $13mil+. Then Brendan Haywood will get about $7mil and Tyrus Thomas $6.5mil. Someone needs to be traded or else it will be luxury tax central in Canada. Haywood is definitely a goner. Juvenile would love to move K-mart, but Roy may be balling in the USA this coming season.

In the draft, the Raptors grabbed Texas center Dexter Pittman. The senior is over 300 pounds and get bang down below. However, the dude cannot shoot at all. We will make the team but is he viable back-up for Bynum? The team also grabbed French combo guard Pape Sy who will probably not come over to the NLL this season.

Archive

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· Team by Team: Miami Heat

· Team by Team: Toronto Raptors

· NLL RADIO SPECIAL: LBJ DECIDES

· Team by Team: Houston Rockets

· Team by Team: New Orleans Hornets

· Team by Team: Washington Wizards

· Team by Team: Denver Nuggets

 

 

 

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