The Toronto Raptors are finally moving forward and making changes after losing Chris Bosh this summer.  The Raptors recently worked out a 5 player trade with the New Orleans Hornets. Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo says that he made this trade to add to the team’s young core and increase their financial flexibility.

Toronto traded guards Jarrett Jack and Marcus Banks alongside with centre David Anderson for guard Jerryd Bayless and Peja Stojakovic. Colangelo is now focused on building the future of the team without the man they had spent so much time building the team around, Chris Bosh.

Raps are off to at 5-9 start to the season after a close win against the Celtics last night. “It’s pretty obvious this trade was made with the future in mind” Bryan Colangelo said on Sunday. “If the last four years were building around Chris Bosh, then next four years are about building without Chris Bosh. This is a step in that direction.”

Colangelo has stated that he has almost $25 million in expiring contracts and more than $12 million left from the trade exception involving Bosh’s sign-and-trade deal with the Heat.  The NBA has been talking about changes in finances and the league has been preparing for labour talks with the players. With all this in mind Colangelo is feeling pretty good about the team’s financial position moving into the future. “We’ve got a chance to be nimble here with respect to what the new rules look like,” Colangelo stated Sunday.

I’m curious to see how these changes will impact the team, and where Colangelo will take us in the next few years.

Elite Girl Jen