25-year old center Andrea Bargnani is off to a good start for the Raptors this year. He has played in 16 games (all starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 34.7 minutes, 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Bargnani is also shooting 42% from three point range this year. The Raptors might need Bargnani to shoot less from long range because without Reggie Evans they could have problems rebounding so they might need him closer to the basket.

The Raptors will be without starting power forward Reggie Evans indefinitely as he broke his right foot last night. Evans has played in 15 games (all starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 27.3 minutes, 4.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Evans is only shooting 36% from the floor this year but he still helps the offense with his rebounding. The Raptors need Amir Johnson to step up while Evans is out of action. The Raptors have Johnson a nice new contract so they need him to start earning the money. Johnson has played in 16 games (1 start) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Johnson is shooting 57.1% from the floor and 88.9% from the free throw line so the offense will likely be improved with him on the floor instead of Evans. Peja Stojakovic could also see more P.T. due to Evans’ injury. Stojakovic has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Raptors since the deal with the Hornets and he is averaging 11.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

UPDATE: (12/2/2010) - Reggie Evans is going to miss the next 8 weeks.

With Jarrett Jack off to the Hornets, Jose Calderon will get his starting job back. Calderon has played in 14 games (1 start) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 22.5 minutes, 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He does need to pick up his shooting as he is only hitting 38.8% from the floor, 36% from three point range and 84% from the free throw line so far this year. I expect as his minutes go up that his shooting % will continue to rise. I think Calderon is really going to play well now.

The Raptors have dealt 27-year old SG/PG Jarrett Jack, 30-year old center David Andersen and 29-year old point guard Marcus Banks to the Hornets for 22-year old PG/SG Jerryd Bayless and 33-year old small forward Peja Stojakovic. Bayless was the key to the deal for the Raptors. Bayless played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Hornets this year and he averaged 13.5 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He has now played in 138 games (11 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.3 minutes, 6.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Peja Stojakovic has played in 6 games (0 starts) for the Hornets this year and he is averaging 14.8 minutes, 7.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist per game. He has now played in 777 games (652 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 34.0 minutes, 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Stojakovic has also shot 40% from three point range in his NBA career so he could really help the Raptors off the bench. Jarrett Jack played in 13 games (all starts) for the Raptors this year and he is averaging 26.7 minutes, 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Jack will be replaced in the starting lineup at point guard by Jose Calderon so there won’t be any dropoff. David Andersen played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Raptors this year and he averaged 13.6 minutes, 5.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He really didn’t fit into the Raptors’ style of play. Marcus Banks played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Raptors this year and he averged 7.3 minutes, 2.0 points, 0.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Banks was buried on the bench so he won’t be missed.

24-year old SG/SF Sonny Weems is really playing well off the bench for the Raptors so far this year. He has played in 9 games (2 starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 24.2 minutes, 12.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Weems is also shooting 52.4% from the floor this year. I see Weems’ minutes going up as long as he keeps playing at the level that he is right now.