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Toronto Raptors Raptors ready to reap benefits of productive offseason
Updated: Wednesday October 03, 2001 7:11 PM
By Marty Burns, CNNSI.com No team in the Central Division had a more successful offseason than Toronto. Not only did it convince superstar Vince Carter to re-sign for seven years, but it also managed to keep Antonio Davis, Alvin Williams and Jerome Williams in the fold. Oh yeah, did we mention that the Raptors signed a free-agent center who happens to be one of the top 50 players of all time? OK, so maybe center Hakeem Olajuwon isn't the Dream of old. The Raptors don't need him to be. They just hope the 38-year-old can play defense, rebound and provide some occasional scoring down low. If so, it will enable Davis to slide back to his natural position at power forward and give the Raptors one of the biggest and best frontcourts in the East.
The Raptors' other big question will be whether Morris Peterson is ready to step in as a starter at small forward. If MoPete can handle it, the Raptors can go big with Alvin Williams at the point and Carter at shooting guard. If not, Peterson will be used off the bench, and the hard-nosed Chris Childs will get the nod at point with Alvin Williams and Carter each sliding over one spot. With the starting lineup all but set, and Jerome Williams and Keon Clark waiting on the bench, the Raptors have the pieces. They will miss Charles Oakley's toughness, especially with soft-spoken coach Lenny Wilkens calling the shots. But all the pieces are in place for a long postseason run. Standout Stat: $225.7 Millions of dollars the Raptors committed in future contracts this offseason ($84 million on Vince Carter, $60 million on Antonio Davis, $41 million on Jerome Williams, $24 million on Alvin Williams and $16.7 on Hakeem Olajuwon).
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