The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday their roster for Wednesday’s regular season opener against the Detroit Pistons at Air Canada Centre (TSN/TSN 1050, 7:30 p.m.). The Raptors waived Drew Crawford, Brady Heslip, Yanick (yan-neek) Moreira (more-era), E.J. Singler and Jarrod Uthoff (U-toff) Saturday to get to the league roster limit of 15 players.
Last season, the Raptors established a club record with 56 wins, captured their third consecutive Atlantic Division title and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in team history.
Toronto returns 11 players that finished last season with the team. Newcomers to the roster are Jakob Poeltl (Utah, first-round draft pick), Pascal Siakam (New Mexico State, first-round draft pick), Jared Sullinger (Boston) and Fred VanVleet (Wichita State, undrafted free agent).
The upcoming campaign marks the Raptors’ 22nd season in the NBA. This is the fifth straight season the club has opened at home. The Raptors sport a 12-9 record in season openers, including 9-6 at home. Wednesday will mark the second time Toronto has opened the season against Detroit. The two clubs faced off at Air Canada Centre to start the 2000-01 campaign.
The Raptors play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday and the Denver Nuggets on October 31 before they travel to Washington to face the Wizards on November 2.
2016-17 TORONTO RAPTORS ROSTER
As Of Oct. 25, 2016
HEAD COACH: Dwane Casey (Kentucky)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Rex Kalamian (Cal Poly Pomona), Nick Nurse (Northern Iowa), Jama Mahlalela (British Columbia), Patrick Mutombo (Metro State), Jim Sann (Colorado)
ASSISTANT COACH/DIRECTOR OF SPORTS SCIENCE: Alex McKechnie (Leeds School of Physiotherapy)
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Scott McCullough (Toronto)