Masai Ujiri would have liked to make more significant moves to the Toronto Raptors' roster during his first few months on the job, but deals didn't materialize beyond the Andrea Bargnani trade with the New York Knicks.

“It’s our first time all together,” said Ujiri. “It’s an evaluation time for us.

“We are still evaluating. I don’t know (about the team). I can’t tell you yet. Maybe after a couple of weeks, I will be able to say.”

The Raptors are counting on development from Jonas Valanciunas, another step from DeMar DeRozan, and Rudy Gay getting his career back on track.

“My team is now,” said Ujiri. “My time is now. All I know is now and the future. So they (fans) can start criticizing from today. We’re excited about the season. We’re going to do what’s best for the team and the organization.”

The Toronto Raptors have named Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan as team captains.

Gay was acquired last January by the Raptors in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.

DeRozan signed a long-term extension with the Raptors last October.

The Toronto Raptors waived forward Chris Wright and guard Carlos Morais.

Morais totaled six points and 21 minutes in three preseason games, while Wright tallied 10 points, six rebounds and 26 minutes in five outings.

The Raptors' roster now stands at 15.

Raptors guard Kyle Lowry injured his left ring finger tendon during the third quarter of Wednesday’s game versus Memphis.

Lowry’s finger will be protected with a splint for approximately six weeks.

Lowry will be able to participate in practices and play in games during this time.

Lowry had a follow-up examination on Thursday in Toronto and did not accompany the team to Milwaukee for Friday’s preseason finale.

Steve Nash is general manager of the Canadian national basketball team and recently wrote a special piece on ESPN about the very promising state of the country's basketball talent.

Anthony Bennett was the first overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, joining fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Andrew Wiggins, meanwhile, is the most highly celebrated player coming out of high school since LeBron James in 2003.

Nash was raised in British Columbia.

"Right now interest and participation in the game in Canada is at an all-time high. While my friends and I grew up watching the NBA like a lot of Canadians, the arrival of the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies brought the NBA and the game of basketball into more households across the country exponentially and with a new intimacy. The sport's visibility exploded, and with it so did interest, excitement and participation.

"For six and a half years, much of Canada's young talent watched and fell in love with a flamboyant, human highlight film named Vince Carter. He inspired them nightly while playing for the home team Raptors. I think Vince's presence in our country shouldn't be underestimated. His charisma was incredibly powerful in attracting a Canadian audience to the game of basketball for a memorable period of time. More and more kids play basketball every year in Canada, and I think the NBA's arrival played a pivotal role in the game's growth."

Nash also credits the Internet to reaching Canadians interested in basketball.

DeMar DeRozan is playing well in the preseason and he at least partially credits how comfortable he has become off the court.

“Going into my fifth year in the league, just having the utmost confidence," said DeRozan. "Not having no doubt or no questions about nothing.”

DeRozan has frequently been the best player on the court for the Toronto Raptors.

“He’s a family man and all that starts to come into play as you grow and mature," said Dwane Casey. "That’s why it’s so hard when people talk about: ‘This guy’s going to come in and take over the league.’ No, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a four year process, a five year process ... It’s really good to see.”

The Toronto Raptors have worked extensively with Jonas Valanciunas on the "Hibbert", which is jumping vertically to challenge shooters instead of reaching.

The Raptors are hoping Valanciunas gives them a strong interior presence on defense without succumbing to foul trouble.

"He's far more comfortable in the NBA games," Dwane Casey said. "More confident, moving with more confidence, understanding where to go, what to do. I thought it gave him a sense of belonging, that I belong here. He's got a little swagger from the Summer League. Just being one of our primary interior scorers will be a great year for him, quarterbacking out of the post. And defensively, understanding the nuances of the NBA, the speed of the NBA. We need a rim protector and he needs to be a rim protector for us."

Dwane Casey and the Toronto Raptors are optimistic that Rudy Gay can again become a productive player following an offseason in which he had corrective eye surgery, added 15 pounds of upper body muscle and altered the mechanics of his shot.

Gay shot 41.6 percent last season, down from 45.5 percent in 11-12.

“I worked a lot,” said Gay. “Every day I was committed to becoming a better shooter.”