Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto , Ontario , where their home court is at Air Canada Centre . The Raptors are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The team was established in 1995 , along with the Vancouver Grizzlies , as part of the NBA ' s expansion into Canada . When the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis , Tennessee to become the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 , the Raptors became the only Canadian team in the NBA . They originally played their home games at the SkyDome ( later renamed Rogers Centre ) , before moving down the street to the Air Canada Centre in 1999 . Like most expansion teams , the Raptors struggled in their early years , but after the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft day trade in 1998 , the team set league attendance records and made the NBA playoffs in 2000 , 2001 , and 2002 . Carter was instrumental in leading the team to a then - franchise high 47 wins and their first playoff series win in 2001 , where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals . During the 2002 – 03 and 2003 – 04 seasons , they failed to make significant progress and he was traded in 2004 to the New Jersey Nets . After Carter left , Chris Bosh emerged as the team leader . In 2006 – 07 , Bryan Colangelo ' s first full season as President and General Manager , a combination of Bosh , 2006 first overall NBA draft pick Andrea Bargnani and a revamp of the roster helped the Raptors qualify for their first playoff berth in five years , capturing the Atlantic Division title with 47 wins . In the 2007 – 08 season , they advanced to the playoffs again , but failed to make the playoffs in each of the next five seasons . In a bid to persuade Bosh to stay , Colangelo overhauled the team roster for the 2009 – 10 season , but Bosh signed with the Miami Heat in July 2010 , ushering in yet another era of rebuilding for the Raptors . After Masai Ujiri was brought in as the new General Manager in 2013 , he traded Bargnani to the New York Knicks . With a backcourt led by DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry , the Raptors returned to the playoffs , won their second Atlantic Division title , and won a franchise record 48 games in the 2013 – 14 season . However , they failed for a fourth consecutive time to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs . Franchise history . Creation of the Raptors . The Toronto Raptors were established on November 4 , 1993 , when the NBA , as part of its expansion into Canada , awarded its 28th franchise to a group headed by Toronto businessman John Bitove for a then - record expansion fee of $ 125 million US . Bitove and Allan Slaight of Slaight Communications each owned 44 % , with the Bank of Nova Scotia ( 10 % ) , David Peterson ( 1 % ) , and Phil Granovsky ( 1 % ) being minority partners . The Raptors , along with the Vancouver Grizzlies , played their first game in 1995 , and were the first NBA teams based in Canada since the 1946 – 47 Toronto Huskies , though the Buffalo Braves had played a total of 16 regular season games at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto from 1971 – 75 . Initial sentiment was in favour of reviving the Huskies nickname , but team management realized it would be nearly impossible to design a logo that did not substantially resemble that of the Minnesota Timberwolves . As a result , a nationwide contest was held to help name the team and develop their colours and logo . Over 2 , 000 entries were narrowed down to ten prospects : Beavers , Bobcats , Dragons , Grizzlies , Hogs , Raptors , Scorpions , T - Rex , Tarantulas , and Terriers . The final selection — " Toronto Raptors " — was unveiled on Canadian national television on May 15 , 1994 : the choice was influenced by the popularity of the 1993 film " Jurassic Park " . The name Raptors is a common informal name for the velociraptor , a swift medium - sized dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur . On May 24 , 1994 , the team ' s logo and first General Manager , Isiah Thomas were revealed at a press conference . As part of the deal , Thomas received an option to purchase part of the team , reportedly for under market value He would purchase 4 . 5 % in May 1995 and a further 4 . 5 % in December 1995 , half each from Bitove and Slaight , decreasing their share to 39 . 5 % . The team ' s colours of bright red , purple , black , and silver were also revealed ; " Naismith " silver was chosen as an ode to Canadian James Naismith , the inventor of basketball . The team originally competed in the Central Division , and before the inaugural season began , sales of Raptors merchandise ranked seventh in the league , marking a successful return of professional basketball to Canada . As General Manager , Isiah Thomas quickly staffed the management positions with his own personnel , naming long - time Detroit Pistons assistant Brendan Malone as the Raptors ' head coach . The team ' s roster was then filled as a result of an expansion draft in 1995 . Following a coin flip , Toronto was given first choice and selected Chicago Bulls point guard and three - point specialist B . J . Armstrong . Armstrong refused to report for training and Thomas promptly traded him to the Golden State Warriors for power forwards Carlos Rogers and Victor Alexander . Thomas then selected a wide range of players in the expansion draft , including veterans Jerome Kersey , Willie Anderson and his former Pistons teammate John " Spider " Salley . Subsequent to the expansion draft , the Raptors landed the seventh pick in the NBA draft lottery , behind their fellow 1995 expansion club , the Vancouver Grizzlies . Thomas selected Damon Stoudamire , a point guard out of the University of Arizona , around whom the franchise would seek to construct its near future . Yet , the selection of Stoudamire was met with boos from fans at the 1995 NBA draft at SkyDome in Toronto , many of whom wanted Ed O ' Bannon of UCLA , an NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player . 1995 – 1999 : Struggles of a new franchise . In the team ' s first official NBA game , Alvin Robertson scored the first NBA points in Raptors history , while Stoudamire recorded 10 points and 10 assists in a 94 – 79 victory over the New Jersey Nets . The Raptors concluded their inaugural season with a 21 – 61 win – loss record , although they were one of the few teams to defeat the Chicago Bulls , who set an all - time NBA best 72 – 10 win – loss regular season record . With averages of 19 . 0 points and 9 . 3 assists per game , Stoudamire also won the 1995 – 96 Rookie of the Year Award . In November of the 1996 – 97 season , Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $ 65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement , giving Slaight 79 % control of the team , and remaining minority partner of the Bank of Nova Scotia ( 10 % ) , Thomas ( 9 % ) Peterson ( 1 % ) and Granovsky ( 1 % ) . Slaight subsequently acquired the 1 % which had been owned by both Peterson and Granovsky , who had died a year earlier . The team improved on its win record by nine games . They selected centre Marcus Camby with the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft . By the end of the season , Camby earned a berth on the NBA ' s All - Rookie Team while Stoudamire continued to play well , averaging 20 . 2 points and 8 . 8 assists per game . As in the previous season , the Raptors were one of only 11 teams to topple the eventual 1997 Champions , the Chicago Bulls . The Raptors also defeated the Houston Rockets , Utah Jazz and Miami Heat , all of whom were eventual Conference finalists . However , the Raptors struggled against teams who were not of championship calibre , including three losses to the 15 – 67 Boston Celtics . In the 1997 – 98 season , the team suffered numerous injuries and slid into a 17 - game losing streak . After Thomas ' attempts to execute a letter of intent with Slaight to purchase the team failed , he resigned his position with the team in November and sold his 9 % stake in the team to Slaight . This left Slaight with 90 % and the Bank of Nova Scotia with 10 % . Thomas was replaced by Glen Grunwald as GM . With Thomas gone , Stoudamire immediately sought a trade . On February 13 , 1998 , he was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers for Kenny Anderson , Alvin Williams , Gary Trent , two first - round draft choices , a second - round draft choice and cash . Anderson refused to report to Toronto and was traded to the Celtics with Žan Tabak and Popeye Jones for Chauncey Billups , Dee Brown , Roy Rogers and John Thomas . When the trading deadline was over , the Raptors became the youngest team in the league with an average age of 24 . 6 . They had five rookies on their roster , including the 18 - year - old Tracy McGrady , who at the time was the youngest player in the NBA . The inexperienced Raptors struggled throughout the season and their regular season record regressed to 16 – 66 . On February 12 , 1998 , Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd . , the owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs , purchased 100 % of the Raptors and the arena the team was building , Air Canada Centre , from Slaight and the Bank of Nova Scotia . MLSE paid a reported $ 467 million , made up of $ 179 million for the team and $ 288 million for the arena . During the 1998 NBA draft , in what became a defining move for the franchise , Grunwald traded the team ' s 4th overall pick Antawn Jamison to the Golden State Warriors for Vince Carter , who was selected 5th overall . To bring further credibility to the Raptors , Grunwald traded Camby to the New York Knicks for Charles Oakley , a veteran with playoff experience . Kevin Willis , another veteran acquired from the trade , solidified the centre position , while the coaching staff temporarily rotated Brown , Williams and Doug Christie to play point guard . Both Christie and Williams became talented players in their own right ; Christie developed into one of the elite defenders in the NBA , while Williams improved his play on the offensive end . New coach Butch Carter was also credited with much of the team ' s turnaround during the lockout shortened 1998 – 99 season . Although the team did not make the playoffs , many were optimistic with the impressive performances of Rookie of the Year Carter and a much improved McGrady . 1999 – 2002 : The Vince Carter era . During the 1999 NBA draft , believing that the Raptors still lacked a strong frontcourt presence , Grunwald traded first - round draft pick Jonathan Bender for veteran power forward Antonio Davis of the Indiana Pacers . In the backcourt , Carter , Christie , Williams and Dell Curry played at the shooting guard position and Muggsy Bogues at point guard . The rotation of Davis , Oakley and Willis in the frontcourt and Carter ' s and McGrady ' s improvement helped the team make its first ever playoff appearance , fulfilling a promise Carter had made to fans in the previous season . Lacking significant post - season experience , Toronto was defeated 3 – 0 by the New York Knicks in the first round . Nonetheless , team improvements and the rise of Carter — who emphatically won the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest — attracted many fans around Toronto , many of whom were previously not basketball fans . The season was also the first full year played at the Air Canada Centre , after having played four years at the cavernous SkyDome , which was better suited to baseball and Canadian football . Overall , the Raptors concluded the season with a 45 – 37 record . Still , playoff failures and Butch Carter ' s media altercations surrounding Camby led Grunwald to replace Carter prior to the 2000 – 01 season with Lenny Wilkens , a Hall of Fame coach and player with more than 30 years of coaching experience . The team roster was also largely revamped , including the signing of veteran playmaker Mark Jackson on a four - year contract . When Alvin Williams later emerged as a clutch performer , Jackson was traded to allow Williams more playing time . In the 2000 off - season , free agent McGrady opted to leave the Raptors in a sign - and - trade deal worth $ 67 . 5 million over six years , while giving a conditional draft pick as part of the agreement to the Orlando Magic , for a first - round draft pick . As predicted by analysts , the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise high 47 wins . The Raptors won their first ever playoff series as they defeated New York 3 – 2 , advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time in franchise history . Wilkens was praised for having Williams defend shooting guard Allan Houston and Carter defend small forward Latrell Sprewell , the two major Knicks offensive threats . The series with Philadelphia 76ers was a landmark for the Raptors in terms of performance and entertainment value . The Sixers relied on Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo for their respective offensive and defensive abilities , along with steady help from Aaron McKie . Toronto was the more balanced team with Carter , Alvin Williams and Davis providing much of the offensive game and Chris Childs and Jerome Williams on defence . The series came down to the last few seconds of Game 7 , when Carter ' s potential series - winning shot rolled off the rim . Carter was later widely criticized for attending his graduation ceremony at the University of North Carolina on the morning of Game 7 , as he scored only 20 points on 6 - for - 18 shooting , after a 39 point performance in Game 6 . Despite the loss , the season is generally considered a watermark for the franchise , given the Raptors ' franchise high of 47 wins and advancing beyond the first round of the playoffs . The relocation of the Vancouver Grizzlies to Memphis , Tennessee in 2001 , as the Memphis Grizzlies , left Toronto as the NBA ' s only Canadian team . In the summer of 2001 , long - term contracts were given to Alvin Williams , Jerome Williams and Davis , while former NBA MVP centre Hakeem Olajuwon was signed to provide Carter with good support . The Raptors appeared to be on their way to another competitive season , with a 29 – 21 record going into the All - Star break and with Carter the top vote - getter for the All - Star game for the third consecutive year . Carter then suffered a bout of patellar tendinitis ( also known as " jumper ' s knee " ) forcing him to miss the All - Star game and the rest of the season , and without their franchise player , Toronto lost 13 consecutive games . However , they were able to win 12 of their last 14 games , clinching a playoff spot on the last day of the regular season . The comeback featured some of the Raptors ' best defence of the season , along with inspired performances by Davis and Keon Clark . Despite Toronto ' s improved defensive performances , Carter ' s offence was sorely missed in the first - round series against the second - seeded Detroit Pistons . In the first game , Detroit overwhelmed Toronto 83 – 65 , largely due to Ben Wallace ' s strong performance of 19 points , 20 rebounds , 3 blocks and 3 steals . Detroit also won Game 2 , but Toronto won the next two games at home to force a deciding and tightly contested Game 5 in Detroit . With 10 . 7 seconds left in the game , and the Raptors down 85 – 82 with possession of the ball , Childs raced down the court and shot a three - pointer that missed badly , apparently trying to draw a foul on the play , instead of passing to a wide - open Curry . In a post - game locker room interview , Childs repeatedly insisted that the Raptors had been down four points , not three . The Raptors ' late - season surge was thus marred by a disappointing playoff exit ; the Olajuwon experiment was also a bust , with the 39 - year - old averaging career lows in minutes , points and rebounds . Furthermore , Childs , Clark , and Curry left the team , ensuring a new - look team for the next season . 2002 – 2006 : Another period of struggle . The 2002 – 03 season began with the same optimism that the Raptors exhibited in three consecutive playoff seasons , although it faded early . Carter , while voted as a starter in the 2003 All - Star Game , suffered a knee injury , while Davis expressed disinterest in Toronto , and Wilkens ' " laissez - faire " attitude created a team that lacked the motivation and spirit of the previous years ' teams . The team was ravaged with injuries , losing an NBA record number of player games due to injury . Furthermore , the Raptors recorded the dubious honour of being the only team in NBA history to not dress 12 players for a single game in a season . Wilkens was criticized heavily by the Toronto media for his inability to clamp down on his players when necessary , especially given this was the year that Wilkens overtook Bill Fitch for the most losses by an NBA coach , with his loss total getting dangerously close to his win total . The Raptors ended the season with a 24 – 58 record and Wilkens was fired . This turned out to be a blessing in disguise , when the Raptors were given the 4th overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft and brought another star to Toronto in Chris Bosh . Canadian country singer Shania Twain helped launch the new red Raptors alternate road uniform at the start of the 2003 – 04 season , and the jerseys made their debut in a 90 – 87 season - opening victory on October 29 , 2003 against the defending Conference Champion New Jersey Nets . Davis and Jerome Williams were traded early in the season for Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall . After 50 games , Toronto was 25 – 25 and in a position to make the playoffs , but injuries to key players sent the Raptors plummeting down the standings . Rose , Carter , and Alvin Williams all suffered injuries as the Raptors struggled to a record of 8 – 24 in their remaining games . The notable individual season performances were Carter ' s 22 . 5 ppg , Marshall ' s 10 . 7 rpg and rookie Bosh , a 6 – 10 forward - centre who averaged 11 . 5 ppg and 7 . 4 rpg and was named to the NBA All - Rookie Team . Williams ' knee injury turned out to be career - ending . For the 2004 – 05 season , the team moved into the Atlantic Division and the Raptors decided to revamp the team . Raptors President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Richard Peddie fired Grunwald on April 1 , 2004 , after the team ended the season three games short of the eighth and final playoff spot in the previous season . Head coach Kevin O ' Neill and his four assistant coaches were also dismissed immediately after Grunwald ' s termination . Toronto interim manager Jack McCloskey said : " While the blame for that certainly does not rest on O ' Neill and his staff alone , we need a change . " Rob Babcock was named General Manager on June 7 , 2004 , alongside the appointments of Wayne Embry as senior advisor and Alex English as director of player development . Sam Mitchell , a former NBA forward and assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks was hired as new head coach of the Raptors . Babcock ' s first move as GM was drafting centre Rafael Araújo — selected eighth overall — in the 2004 NBA draft , in a move that was criticized by fans and analysts , considering highly touted swingman Andre Iguodala was drafted with the next pick . Babcock signed point guard Rafer Alston to a 5 - year deal . After Vince Carter ' s annual charity game , Babcock implicitly revealed to the media that Carter ' s agent had asked for a trade confirming Carter was discontent . The " Toronto Sun " reported that Carter felt he was being misled by the Raptor ' s hierarchy during the General Manager search and had concluded that as long as the managerial structure at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd . remained intact , the Raptors would never be an elite team . Carter was finally traded mid - season , ending his six - year tenure . Toronto received Alonzo Mourning , forwards Eric Williams and Aaron Williams and two mid - to - late future first round picks from the New Jersey Nets . Mourning chose not to report to Toronto , forcing Babcock to buy out the remainder of his contract at a reported $ 10 million , leaving him free to sign with the Miami Heat . Eric and Aaron Williams were supposed to add defensive toughness and rebounding , but were generally under - utilized for the entire season . Analysts had predicted Babcock got the bad end of the deal , and the trade eventually cost him his job . Carter ' s departure heralded a new era for Toronto . Bosh stepped up to the role of franchise player and performed well in his sophomore campaign , ranking tenth in the league in defensive rebounds . In contrast to Bosh ' s emergence , Araújo struggled to keep a spot in the line - up , and became unpopular with fans and local media . Although the ACC was often well - attended due to the Raptors ' 22 – 19 home record , their inability to win on the road ( 11 – 30 ) and poor defensive record made Mitchell ' s first year as head coach unimpressive . Additionally , Mitchell had problems dealing with Alston , who openly expressed his unhappiness with Mitchell in a post - game interview . Later in the season , Alston was suspended two games for " conduct detrimental to the team " for reportedly walking out of a scrimmage during practice . Notwithstanding the unrest , in their first season competing in the Atlantic Division , Toronto maintained the same regular season record of 33 – 49 as the previous season . The Raptors continued to rebuild during the 2005 NBA draft , selecting Charlie Villanueva , Joey Graham , Roko Ukić and Uroš Slokar , with Villanueva ' s selection being very controversial amongst basketball pundits and Raptors fans alike . The Raptors started their training camp by trading Alston to the Houston Rockets for Mike James , and signing free agent José Calderón as a back - up for James . Despite the infusion of new players , Toronto ' s overall 2005 – 06 season was a disappointment ; they set a franchise record by losing their first nine games and 15 out of their first 16 games . With losses mounting and media scrutiny intensifying , the Raptors hired legendary ex - Purdue coach Gene Keady as an assistant off the bench to help develop the young Raptors team , as well as establish a defensive persona for the team . On January 15 , 2006 , the Raptors set a franchise points record in a 129 – 103 win over the Knicks when Villanueva hit a three - pointer late in the game , but less than a week later , the Raptors gave up an 18 - point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers , and allowed Lakers star Kobe Bryant to score 81 points , the second highest single - game total in NBA history . With media scrutiny intensifying once more and the Raptors entrenched at the bottom of the league in defensive field goal percentage , Toronto fired Babcock . The 2005 – 06 season was not a total disaster . Villanueva ' s play impressed both fans and former critics as he came in second in NBA Rookie of the Year and recorded 48 points in an overtime loss to Milwaukee Bucks , the most points scored by any rookie in franchise history and the most by a rookie in the NBA since 1997 . Bosh was also named a reserve forward for the Eastern All - Star Team in the 2006 game , becoming the third Raptor after Vince Carter and Antonio Davis to appear in an All - Star Game . On February 27 , 2006 , the team named Bryan Colangelo , the 2004 – 05 NBA Executive of the Year , the President and General Manager of the Raptors . Known for his success in transforming a lottery Phoenix team into a 62 - win offensive juggernaut , his hiring gave hope to many fans . Still , Toronto ended the season weakly when Bosh suffered a season - ending thumb injury . The Raptors lost 10 in a row after Bosh ' s injury and finished the season with the fifth worst record ( 27 – 55 ) in the NBA . 2006 – 2010 : Rise of Chris Bosh . The 2006 – 07 season represented a watershed year for the Raptors franchise . The roster was overhauled , including the selection of 2006 NBA draft number one pick Andrea Bargnani , the acquisition of point guard T . J . Ford in exchange for Villanueva , and the signing of shooting guard Anthony Parker and small forward Jorge Garbajosa . Bosh was given a three - year contract extension , while Maurizio Gherardini of Benetton Treviso was hired as the club ' s vice - president and assistant general manager . The first half of the season produced mixed results as Toronto struggled towards the . 500 mark . After the All - Star break , Bargnani continued to work on his defence and shooting ( averaging 14 . 3 points per game ( ppg ) and 3 . 9 rebounds per game ( rpg ) in 12 games for the month of February 2007 ) , and he was selected as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second straight time on March 1 , 2007 . Bargnani became the third Raptor ever to win the award twice , joining Vince Carter and Damon Stoudamire . Toronto ended the regular season with a 47 – 35 record , securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2007 NBA Playoffs along with the Atlantic Division title , as well as homecourt advantage for the first time in franchise history . Bosh was voted to start in the 2007 NBA All - Star Game . The Raptors were also praised for their improved defence , ball - sharing and tremendous team chemistry . Colangelo , Gherardini and Mitchell were credited with Toronto ' s turnaround this season , which was one of the best in NBA history in terms of league standing and defensive ranking . Mitchell was subsequently named the 2006 – 07 NBA Coach of the Year , the first coach in Raptors history to receive the honour , while Colangelo was named 2006 – 07 Executive of the Year . On April 24 , 2007 , the Raptors won their first playoff game in five seasons , with an 89 – 83 victory over the New Jersey Nets , but lost the series 4 – 2 . The series was notable for pitting ex - Raptor Carter against his former team . The Nets took home court advantage in Game 1 , holding off a late Raptors rally in the fourth quarter . The Raptors pulled away in another tight game to even the series at one game apiece . When the series shifted to New Jersey , the Nets took charge of the series , winning games 3 and 4 in routs . New Jersey had a chance to win the series in game 5 in Toronto , but the Raptors took a 20 - point lead after one quarter . Still , New Jersey managed to chip away , and had a chance to win the game , but Boštjan Nachbar ' s three - pointer missed at the buzzer . Needing to win in New Jersey to force a game 7 , Toronto held a one - point lead with under a minute to play in game 6 , but Richard Jefferson hit a layup with eight seconds left to play . Toronto attempted to try for the game - winning shot , but Jefferson intercepted a pass to seal the series for the Nets . Several changes to the roster were made before the 2007 – 08 campaign as Toronto sought to reproduce the same form as the previous campaign . Most notably , the Raptors acquired Carlos Delfino in a trade with Detroit for two second round draft picks , and signed Jamario Moon and three - point specialist Jason Kapono as free agents . On the other hand , veteran swingman Morris Peterson joined the New Orleans Hornets . Despite being defending division champions , the Raptors were widely tipped as outside contenders for the division and conference titles . Bargnani ' s inability to play well consistently , coupled with injuries to Garbajosa ( 75 games ) , Bosh ( 15 games ) and Ford ( 31 games ) , derailed the possibility of a smooth campaign as the Raptors chalked up six fewer wins than the previous season . The Raptors ceded the division title to Boston , and qualified for the 2008 NBA Playoffs as the sixth seed , where they were pitted against the Orlando Magic . In Game 1 , Dwight Howard gave the Magic their first playoffs win since 2003 as they practically led the entire game . Howard would put up a 29 – 20 in Game 2 , as Hedo Türkoğlu scored the final four go - ahead points to give the Magic a 2 – 0 lead . The Raptors would respond with a strong Game 3 victory keyed by great point guard play from Ford and José Calderon . However , Jameer Nelson , Rashard Lewis and Keith Bogans keyed strong three point shooting in Game 4 and overcame Bosh ' s 39 points and 15 rebounds to bring the Magic out of Toronto with a 3 – 1 lead . Howard would finish off the series in Game 5 as impressively as he started – 21 points , 21 rebounds , 3 blocks . Whereas the preceding season was considered a success , the 2007 – 08 campaign was considered a disappointment . Weaknesses in Toronto ' s game — rebounding , defence , and a lack of a swingman — were brought into sharp focus during the playoffs , and changes were expected to be made to the roster . As it turned out , a blockbuster trade was agreed in principle before the 2008 – 09 campaign : six - time All - Star Jermaine O ' Neal was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Ford ( who had become expendable with the emergence of Calderón ) , Rasho Nesterović , Maceo Baston , and Roy Hibbert , the 17th pick in the 2008 NBA draft , giving the Raptors a potential boost in the frontcourt . Meanwhile , Bargnani , who had spent the summer working on his interior game , was projected to come off the bench . The Raptors also introduced a black alternate road jersey for the season similar to the earlier purple design that was dropped a few seasons ago . It had a maple leaf featured on the back neck of the jersey , symbolizing the Raptors as " Canada ' s team " . Despite the introduction of O ' Neal , who brought home the rebounds and the blocks , and a much improved Bargnani , the Raptors were too inconsistent . Following an 8 – 9 start to the season , Mitchell was fired and replaced by long - time assistant Jay Triano . Triano tweaked with the starting line - up to no avail as the Raptors fell to 21 – 34 prior to the All - Star break . O ' Neal and Moon were then traded to Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks , but with the losses mounting , the Raptors soon fell out of the playoffs picture , and were eliminated from contention with seven games of the regular season remaining . The Raptors eventually finished with a 33 – 49 record and headed into the next season with a potential overhaul of the core : Marion could become a free agent ; Bosh could become one after 2009 – 10 ; Parker would soon turn 35 ; and Bargnani had his breakthrough season . On May 12 , 2009 , Triano was given a three - year term for the position of head coach . The inevitable roster shakeup for the 2009 – 10 season began when Kapono was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for the aggressive veteran forward Reggie Evans . Toronto then drafted DeMar DeRozan with the ninth pick , enabling them to fill a spot on the wings . This was followed by the signing of free agent Hedo Türkoğlu , which in turn led to a sign - and - trade agreement involving four teams , with Toronto landing wing players Devean George ( later traded for Marco Belinelli ) and Antoine Wright , while releasing Marion , Kris Humphries and Nathan Jawai . Around the same time , Parker headed for the Cleveland Cavaliers , while Indiana point guard Jarrett Jack was added and Nesterovič brought back to provide cover for the big men . Finally , Delfino and Ukić were moved to the Milwaukee Bucks for Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems . It became increasingly clear that Colangelo , in securing a credible nucleus for the future , was doing this to persuade Bosh to stay beyond 2010 . While the Raptors were off to a sluggish start , they picked up the pace around the All - Star break , reaching a season - high seven games above . 500 and standing fifth in the Eastern Conference . Bosh was recording career - highs in ppg and rpg . However , a season - ending injury to Bosh after the break coincided with Toronto ' s descent down the standings from the fifth seed to the eighth , and they ultimately relinquished their spot to Chicago a few games before the regular season ended . 2010 – 2013 : Rebuilding . Before the 2010 – 11 season began , there was much anticipation around the league over the fates of an elite pack of free agents , featuring the likes of Bosh , Dwyane Wade , LeBron James , and Amar ' e Stoudemire . Bosh and James eventually chose to converge in Miami with Wade , and the sign - and - trade transaction that ensued resulted in the Raptors receiving two first - round draft picks and a trade exception from Miami . Prior to this , Toronto had drafted Ed Davis , also a left - handed power forward like Bosh . After Bosh left , Colangelo sought to trade Calderón , Evans and the disenchanted Türkoğlu for Tyson Chandler , Leandro Barbosa , and Boris Diaw , but the trade involving Chandler collapsed at the last minute , as Chandler was traded to the Dallas Mavericks instead . Belinelli was then traded to New Orleans Hornets for Julian Wright , and 13 games into the season , Jack , David Andersen , and Marcus Banks to New Orleans for Peja Stojaković and Jerryd Bayless . Bosh ' s first return to Toronto was received to a chorus of boos , but not as nearly as harsh as what former Raptors Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter received upon their return . Without Bosh , Toronto as a team regressed and were only able to secure 22 wins in the regular season . Dwane Casey , an assistant coach with the Mavericks , was hired as the new head coach of Toronto before the 2011 – 12 season . The Raptors used their number five pick to select Jonas Valančiūnas , a centre from Lithuania in the 2011 NBA draft . The season was shortened by 16 regular season games due to the 2011 NBA lockout , and the Raptors finished the season with a 23 – 43 record . During the 2012 off - season , Colangelo tried to lure Canadian free agent and two - time MVP Steve Nash , who had become a free agent after playing for the Phoenix Suns , to play for the Raptors . When Nash joined the Los Angeles Lakers instead , the Raptors acquired point guard Kyle Lowry from the Houston Rockets for a future first round pick . Lowry , combined with Valančiūnas and the 8th pick in the 2012 draft Terrence Ross , represented the next phase of the re - building process . On 30 January 2013 , the Raptors acquired Memphis Grizzlies star Rudy Gay and centre Hamed Haddadi as well as Pistons player Austin Daye in a three - way deal that sent Calderón to the Detroit Pistons and Davis , along with Pistons veteran Tayshaun Prince and a 2nd round pick to the Grizzlies . Haddadi was later traded , along with a second round pick , to Phoenix in exchange for guard Sebastian Telfair . The 2012 – 13 season was the first season since 2009 – 10 that the Raptors finished the season with a winning home record ( 21 – 20 ) , despite their overall losing record ( 34 – 48 ) . 2013 – present : Return to contention . During the 2013 off - season , new General Manager Masai Ujiri traded Bargnani to the New York Knicks for Marcus Camby , Steve Novak , Quentin Richardson , a future first round draft pick , and two future second round picks ; Camby and Richardson were both waived shortly after the trade . The Raptors also added Tyler Hansbrough , D . J . Augustin , Dwight Buycks , and Austin Daye via free agency . On 9 December 2013 , the Raptors traded Gay , Quincy Acy , and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings for John Salmons , Greivis Vásquez , Patrick Patterson , and Chuck Hayes , and waived Augustin . The Raptors were 6 – 12 before the Gay trade ; after the trade , they went on a 10 – 3 run as they maintained their lead in the division , and rose above the . 500 mark for the first time in almost three years . The Raptors entered the All - Star break with a 28 – 24 record , and DeRozan was also selected to play in the All - Star game , being only the fourth ever Raptor to do so . On March 28 , 2014 , the Raptors clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2008 after beating the Boston Celtics 105 – 103 . On April 11 , 2014 , the Raptors lost to the New York Knicks 108 – 100 , but since division rival Brooklyn lost to the Atlanta Hawks the same night , the Raptors became Atlantic Division champions for the first time since 2007 . They finished the regular season with a franchise - high 48 wins ( . 585 ) , going 42 – 22 ( . 656 ) after the Gay trade , the third - best record in the Eastern Conference . The Raptors faced the Brooklyn Nets in the first round for the first time since 2007 , when the Nets where located in New Jersey . Toronto nearly advanced to the next round , but Paul Pierce blocked a potential game - winner by Lowry in Game 7 . In the summer of 2014 , it was revealed that the Raptors were in discussion with the Rochester Razorsharks of the Premier Basketball League about forming a partnership in which the team would join the D - League and serve as the Raptors ' exclusive affiliate . Personnel . International rights . The following players have rights owned by the Toronto Raptors . Management . General managers Owners Head coaches Awards and records . Since their inception in 1995 , the Raptors have made the playoffs six times ( 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2007 , 2008 , and 2014 ) , advancing past the first round just once ( 2001 , when they were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals ) . The Raptors have won the Atlantic Division twice ( 2007 and 2014 ) , and the franchise record number of wins in the regular season is 48 ( 2014 ) . Four Raptors have been selected to play in the All - Star game : Vince Carter , Antonio Davis , Chris Bosh , and DeMar DeRozan . Broadcasters . Raptors games are primarily broadcast on television by TSN and Sportsnet . Through MLSE , the Raptors also operate the Canadian version of NBA TV ( formerly known as Raptors NBA TV ) , which airs reruns of Raptors telecasts along with other news and analysis programs focusing on the team and the rest of the NBA . Television Radio Global ambassador . On September 30 , 2013 , Toronto - based rapper Drake was announced as the new " global ambassador " for the Toronto Raptors , thereby joining the executive committee of his hometown ' s NBA team . Fanbase . The Raptors have enjoyed a consistent fanbase throughout their history . The Toronto Raptors set NBA attendance records in their 2000 , 2001 , 2002 seasons when they made the playoffs . Attendance dipped slightly between 2003 and 2006 . This improved during the 2006 – 07 regular season to an average of 18 , 258 fans ( 13th in the league ) , 92 . 2 % of capacity at the ACC . Following the success of the 2006 – 07 season , Toronto became one of the league leaders in season ticket sales for the 2007 – 08 season . Their television ratings , however , are considerably lower than other more established Toronto sports teams and most other sporting events shown on Canadian television . The value of the Raptors franchise has risen over the years . In 1998 , the franchise was bought for US $ 125 million . With the continued popularity of the Raptors , the value of the franchise doubled from US $ 148 million in 2000 to $ 297 million in 2004 . The value of the franchise grew again from $ 315 million in 2006 to $ 373 million in 2007 , and $ 400 million in 2008 , before falling to $ 386 million in 2009 . In 2010 , the value of the franchise was $ 399 million , according to reports by Forbes . On game day , the fans are usually entertained by the Raptor mascot , the Raptors Dance Pak , and the 4 Korners Raptors Soundcrew during pre - game , time - outs , and intervals . During the 2013 – 14 season , a new " Drake Zone " was created in the lower bowl . Limited edition shirts were given away to fans sitting in the Drake Zone . Giveaways are sometimes bundled with tickets to encourage attendance . Further , whenever Toronto scores more than 100 points in a home game and wins , fans can redeem their ticket for a cheese or pepperoni pizza slice at standalone Pizza Pizza locations throughout Ontario for the business day after the game that was played . This is part of a promotion made by the Raptor ' s official pizza sponsor . Social media . The Raptors have also been one of the most active NBA franchises over social media , with an official Raptors Twitter handle , Pinterest page , and regular Google + hangouts , among others . In the 2011 – 12 season , the Raptors started the Raptors # RTZ Twitter hashtag , a unique way to bring fans together . Moreover , one tweet each game night is chosen as the " tweet of the night " with the winner receiving tickets to an upcoming home game or Raptors merchandise . The Raptors also use the hashtag # WeTheNorth . Rivalries . New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets . The New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets and the Raptors have been minor rivals since the trade of Vince Carter to the Nets during the 2004 – 05 season . The rivalry began to heat up as the two teams faced each other in the opening round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs , with the Nets winning the series 4 – 2 after a go - ahead shot by Richard Jefferson with 8 seconds left in Game 6 ensuring 98 - 97 defeat for the Raptors . The rivalry was rekindled during the 2013 – 14 season when the Nets and Raptors battled for the Atlantic Division , which the Raptors won but then they found themselves facing each other in the opening round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs , the tough fought series lasted seven games leading to final seconds of the series where Paul Pierce blocking Kyle Lowry ' s shot giving the Nets the 104 – 103 victory . New York Knicks . The New York Knicks and the Raptors had a playoff rivalry in 2000 and 2001 . The Raptors made their first - ever playoff appearance during the 1999 – 2000 season , in which they were swept by the Knicks in the first round 3 – 0 . The following season , the Raptors redeemed themselves , defeating the Knicks in the first round 3 – 2 ; this effectively ended the Knicks ' run as perennial NBA championship contenders , which began in the early 1990s . Community service . The Raptors Foundation was the charitable arm of the Raptors , dedicated to assisting Ontario ' s registered charities that support programs and sports initiatives for at - risk children and youth . The Foundation strove to lift spirits and change lives for young people by supporting local and provincial organizations that provide recreational , educational and other youth - oriented activities . Through its community ties and with the help of its corporate partners , donors , Raptors players and volunteers , the Foundation has successfully raised more than $ 14 million between 1995 and 2007 , and reached out to thousands of other charities . The Raptors Foundation was one of three parts of the Raptors ' community service program . The other projects are Raptors Community Relations and Raptors Basketball Development , both of which focus on providing basketball development programs . The Toronto Raptors lead the NBA for amount of money donated to the community . In 2009 , the Raptors Foundation merged with the other charitable arms of MLSE ' s other sports franchises to form the Team Up Foundation .