Toronto Raptors—Early 2000s
Got their name from a movie. Then thought…”Hey, why not have it dribbling a basketball….in purple? With stripes. (Actually, the raptor on the jersey is wearing a better uniform.)
- And A Player To Be Named Later
Former Clemson standout Will Solomon has joined the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
The team’s Web site detailed the signing. The school says Solomon had averaged nearly 18 points a game the past two seasons playing in Istanbul, Turkey. Solomon has also played in Greece and Israel since leaving Clemson after his junior season of 2000-2001.
Solomon was a first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection after leading the league in scoring at 20.9 points a game during his sophomore season of 1999-2000. He was last Tiger to make the first team.
Solomon was a second-round draft choice of the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged just more than five points a game during his lone NBA season.
Jose Calderon, G, Toronto: T.J. Ford, eat your heart out. Calderon might as well send Ford a thank you note for departing NBA Canada and leaving the starting point guard duties to the 27-year-old Spaniard. With more playing time and the addition of Jermaine O’Neal and the already dangerous Chris Bosh on the roster, Calderon will not only improve upon the 11.2 points he scored per game last year, but could raise his assist average from 8.3 into double digits. Entering just his fourth season in the league, it looks like the Red Sea has come to the province of Ontario and opened wide for Calderon to lead his Raptors like a star.
Option Number Four:
Mavs send SG/SF Josh Howard and cash to Toronto for SF/PF Jamario Moon, PF/C Andrea Bargnai, and SG/SF Anthony Parker.
Mavs get a quick reacting cap relief as all three incoming players only have one year left on their contracts. Dallas also receives help in the frontcourt with Bargnai and Jamario Moon, and solid perimeter defender in Parker.
The Raptors have a formation of Josh Howard, Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal, and Jose Calderon for the ‘08-’09 season, a squad that should take the them far into the playoffs. Also by acquiring Howard, Jermaine O’Neal may be tempted to resign with the Raptors for less money, at the risk of winning a championship.
Jawai signed a two-year deal with the Raptors last month after he was traded by Indiana.
And while he is excited at the opportunities ahead, he knows there is plenty of work ahead if he is to make his mark in the toughest professional league in the world.
“I’ve got to start over again. In the NBA it’s a totally different league,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great experience for me.
“It’s going to make me or see where I’m at but I’m looking forward to it.”
It may be a new journey but there’s no way Jawai will forget where he began.
“I’m representing Bamaga, Australia, Cairns, the Cairns Taipans,” he said.
“I’m not going to say it’s the same, it’s a bit more of a step from where it was but I’m still the same, I’m not going to change.
“Cairns and Bamaga has been a massive support for me and going overseas and trying to make my people proud back here, people in Cairns and Taipans supporters, that’s something I want to do.
“I’ve got to make them proud by sticking it out and always coming back to Cairns and Bamaga and giving back to the community for the younger kids and people that look up to you.”
