As the Toronto Raptors marched toward a disappointing 33-win season last year, the club's president and general manager, Bryan Colangelo, repeatedly defended the roster.
But in the months that have followed the finish to that forgettable season, Colangelo's actions have betrayed his comments. He has obliterated that roster, with his latest move coming yesterday.
League sources confirmed that the Raptors have acquired athletic big man Amir Johnson and swingman Sonny Weems from Milwaukee. In exchange, the Bucks will receive Carlos Delfino, a restricted free agent whose rights belonged to Toronto, and point guard Roko Ukic.
The deal cannot officially be completed until next week at the earliest because of contractual details and the never-simple machinations of the league's collective bargaining agreement.
Since the deal brings two new players to Toronto while sending out just one -- Delfino, who played in Russia last year but was not on the Raptors' roster since the sides could not come to an agreement on a contract -- the Raptors are now up to 15 players, the maximum allowed on an NBA roster.
And if Colangelo remains quiet until training camp kicks off in late September in Ottawa, he will have certainly deserved the break. His level of activity makes this off-season one of the most eventful in team history.
Of the 15 players who ended last year on the Raptors' roster, only six remain: starters Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, and Jose Calderon, along with spare parts Quincy Douby, Patrick O'Bryant and Marcus Banks. Of the 10 players who figure to get regular minutes for the Raptors this year, seven of them were not on the team last season.
For now, neither Johnson nor Weems figures to be in that group, although Johnson could put himself in the mix for playing time with an impressive training camp. Johnson, a 22-year-old forward who entered the 2005 NBA Draft out of high school, could never make an impact in three years with Detroit, despite being given a shot last year.
However, his athleticism should fit in with the Raptors' desire to run the floor. Weems, who spent last season in the Denver organization, seems to be a typical throw-in piece in this case.
While the Raptors and Delfino likely did not have much of a future together, giving up on Ukic is something of a gamble for the club. At times last season, Ukic, 24, looked both confident and capable as Calderon's backup. At others, he looked lost. But with the addition of Jarrett Jack in the off-season, Ukic lost his spot in the rotation.
With the deal, the Raptors will have more flexibility following the season. Ukic has a player option for the 2010-11 season, while Delfino is expected to sign a two-year deal with a team option for a third in Milwaukee. Johnson and Weems will combine to make about US$4.4-million next year, but both will come off the books at that point.
And with the league's revenues expected to fall because of the recession, the salary cap and luxury tax should do the same. Colangelo has made several long-term commitments this summer, so every penny saved will help.
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