The Toronto Raptors and DeMar DeRozan have agreed upon a four-year, $42 million (with bonuses) contract extension.

DeRozan was the ninth overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft.

DeRozan averaged 16.7 points on 42.2% shooting last season for the Raptors.

The Toronto Raptors are not expecting Andrea Bargnani to suddenly become a more productive rebounder.

Dwane Casey hopes, however, that Jonas Valanciunas compensates for Bargnani's lack of efficiency on the glass.

“One thing I’ve come to understand, and we did the same thing with Dirk [Nowitzki in Dallas], he’s never going to be a great rebounder,” Casey said. “Turning him into a rebounder is like turning [former Raptor and current Nets forward] Reggie Evans into a three-point shooter. That’s not going to happen. But the one thing he has to do is box his man out. Do not let his man get the ball. That’s the deal we have. That’s [what] he’s got to give us on the rebounding side.”

The Toronto Raptors have released Jamaal Magloire to reach the roster limit of 15 for the start of the 2012-13 season.

Magloire was a training camp invitee and did not appear in any of the Raptors’ six pre-season games.

The Toronto Raptors strongly disagree with the prediction of ESPN's John Hollinger in regards to their season win total.

Hollinger is predicting 33 wins.

“I saw today someone predict we’re going to win 33 games, so, with that lack of respect, that should get us motivated to come in this gym each and every day to bust our tails,” Casey said.

“(The) Hollinger report or whatever it was. That right there tells us how much lack of respect the league has for us and how much we’ve got to continue to work each and every day we walk on the floor.”

DeMar DeRozan responded on Twitter.

"Who the hell is John Hollinger!? #Clown," wrote DeRozan.

The Toronto Raptors have basically decided upon a starting five of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Landry Fields, Andrea Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas.

Dwane Casey is left with a better bench this season, as Jose Calderon, Alan Anderson, Linas Kleiza, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis averaged 24 starts last season.

The Raptors will also have John Lucas, Dominic McGuire and Terrence Ross adding minutes.

“I’m not going to lock myself in a corner as far as a rotation,” Casey said. “I have said the whole training camp it’s going to be fluid. We will get down to an initial eight or nine guys but that last group is going to be fluid. If somebody is not going, we will slide someone else in there. Everyone on our roster has a chance to contribute.”

The Toronto Raptors have hired David Pendergraft to work in their pro personnel department, according to sources.

Pendergraft had been assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks.

Terrence Ross and Quincy Acy will receive more minutes for the Toronto Raptors over the final two preseason games.

“We still want to see our young guys some more, see what they can do, get Quincy in there, get him some minutes, just to make sure because they’re our future, I don’t want to short-change them,” Casey said.

“I felt (Friday) Terrence’s matchup, just coming back from a sore knee, matching up with a guy like Carmelo (Anthony) was a tough one. He’s learning as it is, but he bounced back today and had a big-time practice and shot the lights out of it and that’s what he’s got to do. That’s what we want to do these next couple of games is to continue to get them some run.”

The Toronto Raptors have exercised their fourth-year option on Ed Davis.

Davis was the 13th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Steve Nash nearly signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors in the offseason.

Nash was offered a three-year, $36 million contract by the Raptors, which was considerably more money than what he eventually received from the Lakers.

"I was very close, you know," Nash said. "Because it appeared that they were going to be an option long before free agency started. So I got my head around that and I was comfortable with that and happy with the opportunity to play in Toronto. But when this opportunity (with the Lakers) became a reality, I couldn't pass it up."

Nash picked the Lakers due to their title possibilities and remaining close to his family in Arizona.

Nash, however, was genuinely excited about the possibility of joining the Raptors.

"It wasn't in any way like, 'Oh well, I gotta go to Toronto.' I was thrilled," Nash said.

"Unfortunately it wasn't a team contending for a championship. But I love Toronto, it's home in many senses. And I think it's a first-class organization and a first-class city and I would have been extremely proud to play for them and represent the city, and play for those fans and hopefully help get that team into the playoffs."

Jonas Valanciunas had two points, zero rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes, his first preseason game with the Toronto Raptors.

“He was where he was supposed to be on offensive sets and defensive situations and he opened up Andrea (Bargnani) on his rolls and those things create shots for other players but he doesn’t get credited on the stat sheet for them,” Dwane Casey said.

“I thought he came in and did an excellent job. For being off and coming in his first NBA game and going against three of the most physical inside players in the league, I thought he did a good job.”

“I felt better the second time I came in because that was my first time in the NBA, but I was still not showing 100 per cent results,” said Valanciunas.

The Raptors hope to play more up-tempo when Valanciunas is on the floor.