The Raptors will be without 28-year old SG/SF Leandro Barbosa for the next 1-2 weeks due to a strained right hamstring. Barbosa has played in 33 games (0 starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 24.8 minutes, 13.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. This is going to hurt the Raptors quite a bit as Barbosa adds a lot of energy and offense off the bench.

The Raptors have sent 22-year old center Solomon Alabi to the Erie BayHawks of the D-League. Alabi has played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 3.3 minutes, 0.0 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. Alabi is a legit 7-footer but he’s buried on the Raptors’ depth chart right now. He can’t get better by just watching games, he needs to play in them so I like this move for the Raptors.

The Toronto Raptors have released 29-year old small forward Ronald Dupree. Dupree played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Raptors this year and he averaged 4.3 minutes, 0.7 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.3 assists per game. The Raptors want to give their younger players minutes so they had no need to keep Dupree around any longer.

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.

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.