The Raptors have given G/F Hassan Adams a 2-year contract. Adams is only 24 years old and he’s 6′4″, 220 pounds but he’s best suited for playing shooting guard. Adams didn’t play last season but his rookie season in 2006-07 showed some promise. Adams played in 61 games (8 starts) for the Nets in 2006-07 and he averaged 8.1 minutes, 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. The one thing that jumped off the stat sheet with Adams is that he shot 55.6% from the floor in his rookie season. Adams might be able to give the Raptors some decent minutes off the bench the next couple of seasons.

The Raptors acquired Nathan Jawai along with Jermaine O’Neal in the draft day blockbuster. Jawai is 6′10″, 280 pounds and he likes to throw his weight around. He was played in 30 games in the Australian Pro Basketball League last season and he averaged 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He will likely be a project for the Raptors as he will be very low on the depth chart as a rookie.

The Toronto Raptors made a bold move which will likely make them a title contender in 2008-09. The Raptors have acquired F/C Jermaine O’Neal and rookie C/F Nathan Jawai out of Australia from the Pacers for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and 1st round pick Roy Hibbert. The price was pretty high but the Raptors can replace everyone that they got rid of. O’Neal will likely start at center and that should take a lot of pressure off of Chris Bosh who had to try to do too much quite often last season. The 29-year old O’Neal played in only 42 games (34 starts) last season for the Pacers and he averaged 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. O’Neal has now played in 724 games (515 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. Rookie F/C Nathan Jawai is a big guy at 6′10″, 280 pounds and he played professionally in Australia in 2007. Jawai played in 30 games last season and he averaged 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Jawai is a project and the Raptors will take it slow with him. If O’Neal can stay healthy this is a good trade for the Raptors.

The Raptors have bought out the last year of forward Jorge Garbajosa’s contract valued at $4.25 million dollars. Garbajosa was injured most of last season for the Raptors. He only played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Raptors last season and he averaged 10.6 minutes, 3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Garbajosa played in 74 games (60 starts) in his two seasons in Toronto and he averaged 26.8 minutes, 8.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Raptors won’t likely miss him much but he should make some good money back home in Spain as long as he is healthy.

Rookie forward Jamario Moon came out of nowhere to really help the Raptors this season. He quickly moved into the starting lineup due to his all out hustle and it was infectious to the other Raptors. Moon played in 78 games (75 starts) for the Raptors this season and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He also shot 48.5% from the floor which means he wasn’t taking many bad shots. Moon knows his role on the Raptors and that’s why he fit in perfectly. Look for him to expand his game next season to possibly include increasing his scoring average.