Areas of Strength:
Coaching and youth. Dwane Casey took the worst defensive team in the league and made them respectable on that end. The system is in place and the young core is coming together with last year's No. 5 pick Jonas Valanciunas on his way next season. With another Lottery pick and some cap flexibility, the Raptors have the ability to take a step forward.

Needs work:
Perimeter shooting. Though they improved quite a bit defensively, the Raptors also took a step backward on offense, and they ranked 22nd in shooting from outside the paint. DeMar DeRozan is a talented slasher, but has yet to develop a perimeter game. And when James Johnson and Amir Johnson rank second and third for your team in minutes, you're going to struggle to put the ball in the basket.

Two stats that matter:
8.5 -- The Raptors were the most improved defensive team in the league this season, allowing 8.5 fewer points per 100 possessions than they did in 2010-11, when they ranked 30th in defensive efficiency.

18.2 -- Jonas Valanciunas scored 18.2 points per 36 minutes this season, playing for Lietuvos Rytas in Lithuania.

The way to go:
Ideally, the Raptors would draft a shooter to complement Valanciunas, DeRozan, Ed Davis, and the two Johnsons. North Carolina's Harrison Barnes could be that guy if he's available at No. 8. If not, the Raps need to go with the best player available and sort things out from there. They could also use their cap space to acquire a veteran via trade.

2011-12 Team Stats (points per 100 possessions):
Offensive: 98.5 (25th)
Defensive: 101.5 (12th)

Players under contract:
F-C: Andrea Bargnani
G: Jose Calderon
F: Ed Davis
G: DeMar DeRozan
F: Gary Forbes
C-F: Amir Johnson
F: James Johnson
F-G: Linas Kleiza

Free agents:
C: Solomon Alabi (team option)
G-F: Alan Anderson (restricted)
G: Jerryd Bayless (restricted)
C: Aaron Gray
C: Jamaal Magloire
G: Ben Uzoh (restricted)

Recent Draft History:
2011: Jonas Valanciunus (5)
2010: Ed Davis (13)
2009: DeMar DeRozan (9)
2008: Roy Hibbert (17)
2007: No Picks
2006: Andrea Bargnani (1), P.J. Tucker (35), Edin Bavcic (56)

-- John Schuhmann