Jarrett Jack: The Next Peice Of The Puzzle.

It’s official, the Raptors have extended Jarrett Jack an offer sheet. Now unless the Pacers match the offer, which has been reported to be near the MLE, Jack will be on the Raptors roster next season. This is great news for Raptors fans who witnessed first hand what it is like to have a great starting point guard but no legitimate backups.

Last year the Raptors were at their worst when Jose Calderon, the Raptors leader at point guard, was on the bench with a leg injury. Ukic and Banks struggled to lead the offense and the rest of the team struggled as a result. With Jarrett Jack, the Raptors have a reliable backup point guard who can also play the 2 when needed. At 6′3 197 lbs. Jack has a significant size advantage over the majority oppposing point guards on the offensive end, on the defensive end he has the athletic ability to guard smaller guards and the size to defend bigger ones.

Last season in Indiana, Jack started in 53 of 82 games and continued to start after the return of TJ Ford. Jack averaged 13.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, and 3.4 rpg while playing both the 1 and 2 position. If Jack can maintain that level of versatility and statistical success he will be well worth the reported $20 million over 4 years that Toronto offered him.

This is starting to look like one of the best offseasons in the short history of the Raptors franchise. Already Colangelo has traded Jason Kapono for Reggie Evans, a gritty power forward who will add much needed rebounding and physical toughness to the position. Then Colangelo set up the biggest trade of the offseason acquiring Hedo Turkoglu, a premier scorer from the SF position which was the biggest need for the Raptors. Aquired in the same trade was Antoine Wright, a defensive shooting guard who should start for the Raptors and allow rookie DeRozan to develop. Now Colangelo adds Jarrett Jack who gives the Raptors a legitimate backup point guard and someone who can come off the bench and play at either the 1 or 2.

The picture that is the ‘09/’10 Raptors is starting to develop. With the Jack signing all 3 of my keys to the Raptors offseason are checked off: starting small forward, starting shooting guard, backup point guard. Now Colangelo has a roster that can compete next season, but undoubtedly this will not be the last move that we see him make. The Raptors could still use another veteran center who can defend players like Shaq and Dwight Howard so that Bosh doesn’t get crowned “the RuPaul of big men” again. The Raptors also need to add some more depth at small forward behind Turkoglu. PMB is trying to make the transition from power to small forward and if he is successful he would be a big rebounding boost for the Raptors off the bench but they still need to bring in another reliable bench player at the 3. All signs point to Brent “Air Georgia” Petway possibly making the team, which would add depth at the 3 but until that is confirmed Colangelo should still pursue another forward.

It’s hard to believe that we are only 13 days into the free agent signing period after all that has happened already. Colangelo has had a successful offseason if it were to end right now, but there is still some tweaking to be done if Colangelo wants to seal this as the best offseason in Raptors history.

-KC Roberts