Minutes after Toronto lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season, General Manager Bryan Colangelo admitted head coach Sam Mitchell's job is secure, although some reports suggest such safekeeping is merely for the time being.
Then again, that doesn't mean change won't come to Toronto's roster this offseason.
"This is the sum of it all: we need to get some more help for Chris Bosh," Colangelo told The Toronto Star. "Whether it's protecting him inside in the paint, getting a little bit more of a presence in there, to just getting him another scorer that's going to shoulder some of that burden, it's something that's clear we have to get better."
The wish list starts with - but isn't restricted to - rebounding help, shoring up the defense and adding a couple complementary parts to surround their marquee player. But where will Colangelo turn for such improvements?
Free agency is the best bet, not to mention a potential trade or two with the Raptors being able to dangle their lone draft selection – the 17th overall pick – and perhaps a current point guard or some expiring contracts as well.
But the actual name to keep in mind during the Raptors offseason may be New Jersey's Richard Jefferson.
Jefferson (22.6 points, 4.2 rebounds per game) remains under contract with the Nets but his future in East Rutherford is fairly uncertain. Look for management – team president Rod Thorn and assistant Kiki Vandeweghe - to at least listen to trade offers this offseason; fitting considering Thorn danced the same jig with offers from teams for Jefferson last summer according to multiple sources close to HOOPSWORLD.
Could Colangelo be the first to call Thorn this time around?
Word out of New Jersey now– according to Jefferson himself – is that he wants to return to the Nets, but nothing is guaranteed at this point in the still young offseason and Thorn remains unsure of the changes coming in East Rutherford.
Obviously a deal involving Toronto and New Jersey for Jefferson would include a package or maybe a sign-and-trade, but at least Toronto has the pieces to work with and considering the Nets current rebuilding process, don't be surprised if negotiations would include the Raptors first round draft pick.
Toronto also has a mid-level exception to utilize - estimated at $5.6 million - and the expiring contracts of Rasho Nesterovic, Jorge Garbajosa and Anthony Parker to use.
Something has to give.
It's hard to imagine Toronto wanting to get younger at this point, and at least adding a slasher type like Jefferson brings more than just scoring to the table: he brings valuable postseason experience.
Considering the Raptors postseason track record, you have to think Mitchell and Colangelo like the sound of that.
Toronto also has some free agency questions of their own to answer with Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino listed as restricted free agents, Primoz Brezec and Nesterovic (player option) unrestricted, and Jamario Moon having limited salary protection.
But while Colangelo will busy himself with some roster spring cleaning, he'll surely also seek other free agents available around the league.
Both Chicago's Luol Deng (17 points, 6.3 rebounds per game) and Ben Gordon (18.6 points, 3 assists per game) are potential restricted free agents and could be in the Bulls future plans, but that depends if they officially test the waters or not and Colangelo gets to them first. Either one, if not the duo itself, would surely offer more balanced scoring in the paint and backcourt.
Hard to imagine the word defense being affiliated with the Denver Nuggets, but Eduardo Najera may draw an eye from the Raptors front office as well. An unrestricted free agent, Najera's numbers aren't astounding (5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds per game) by any means, yet his savvy veteran hustle makes him appealing on the open market for sure.
Still hard to believe Andre Iguodala (19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds per game) could be available after the Philadelphia 76ers passed on granting him a contract extension during the regular season, thus allowing Iguodala to likely opt for restricted free agency once Philly's postseason run concludes.
The same can be said for Washington's Antawn Jamison (unrestricted) and Gilbert Arenas (early termination option). Landing both Jamison (21.4 points, 10.2 rebounds per game) and Arenas (19.4 points, 5.1 assists per game) is far fetched, but snagging one or the other isn't.
Clearly management desires experience, the kind of know how that will keep Chris Bosh from shouldering the load yet again. Regardless if such help arrives via free agency or a major move, the options are truly endless at this point for Colangelo.
Now only time will tell which moves he makes to improve the Raptors rosters, and maybe their chances of moving past the first round next postseason.
Check out the 2008 Playoff Weekly Stats Leaders Here
