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Chris Bosh Manny Millan/SI FAST FACTS Record: 33-49 (T-10th in East) Points Scored: 85.4 (29th in NBA) Points Allowed: 88.5 (6th) Coach: Sam Mitchell (first season with the Raptors) 2004 Schedule | 2004 Draft Picks | 2003 Stats Despite having the league's seventh-leading scorer in Vince Carter, last year's Raptors averaged the fourth-fewest points per game (85.4) in NBA history. PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP With 2003-04 statistics RAFAEL ARAUJO(R) POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% FT% C 188 18.4 10.1 1.2 0.83 1.43 57.3 72.2 CHRIS BOSH POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% FT% PF 47 11.5 7.4 1.0 1.41 0.79 45.9 70.1 VINCE CARTER POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% 3FG% SG 22 22.5 4.8 4.8 0.89 1.21 41.7 38.3 RAFER ALSTON POS. PVR PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3FG% FT% PG 89 10.2 2.8 4.5 1.39 37.6 37.1 76.9 DONYELL MARSHALL POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% 3FG% SF 58 14.7 9.9 1.5 1.51 1.13 46.1 40.3  BENCH PVR 2003-04 Stats G-F JALEN ROSE 83 15.5 ppg 4.0 rpg 5.0 apg 0.77 spg 40.2 FG% G-F MORRIS PETERSON 211 8.3 ppg 3.2 rpg 1.07 spg 40.5 FG% 37.1 3FG% G MILT PALACIO 279 4.4 ppg 1.7 rpg 3.1 apg 0.69 spg 34.9 FG% C LOREN WOODS 298 3.2 ppg 3.5 rpg 0.50 bpg 45.8 FG% 60.0 FT% F LAMOND MURRAY 323 6.0 ppg 2.7 rpg 0.45 spg 35.3 FG% 35.0 3FG%

A 290-pound rookie will help lighten a rising star's load in the frontcourt

Rafael Araujo knows about challenges. Four years ago he arrived at Arizona Western Junior College in Yuma from Curitiba, Brazil, with one suitcase and little more than $10 in his pocket. "When I told my coach I had just this one bag," says the 6'11", 290-pound Araujo, "all he could do was laugh." Familiar with only a few phrases in English, Araujo schooled himself by reading children's books and watching television. He performed well enough on the court and in the classroom to earn a scholarship to BYU, and two years later he was the eighth selection in the NBA draft.

Now the 24-year-old center faces a new challenge: anchoring a frontcourt that ranked last in the league in rebounding last season. "I've asked three things of Rafael," says coach Sam Mitchell, who replaced the fired Kevin O'Neill in June. "Rebound, defend and set good screens. If he can do that, I'll be satisfied."

Hoffa, as his new teammates call him (his name is pronounced HA-fay-el ar-RU-joe), worked out at the Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Las Vegas during the summer, banging bodies with NBA centers Samuel Dalembert and DeSagana Diop. Though Araujo's offensive game is raw, camp coaches came away impressed by his superior strength and his willingness to give up his body.

Araujo's arrival should immediately make life easier for 6'10" Chris Bosh, who as a rookie last season had to start 59 games at center despite weighing only 210 pounds. Now the silky Bosh can play alongside the bulldozerlike Araujo, giving Toronto a frontcourt combo that might finally make opposing players think twice before driving to the basket. "If Coach wants me to do the dirty work inside," says Araujo, "then that's what I'm going to do." -- Chris Mannix