The Raptors signed free-agent forward Jamal Sampson, who is expected to give Toronto frontcourt depth after the loss of Nathan Jawai.

Jawai will be held out of practice because of concerns from a routine cardiac screening.

Raptor rookie Nathan Jawai will be held out of training camp after routine preseason cardiac screenings raised concerns, according to a report by the Globe & Mail.

Jawai will undergo further tests that are expected to be concluded by the end of the week.

The 21-year-old Australian was selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Indiana Pacers in last month's NBA draft. He came to Toronto as part of the deal for Jermaine O'Neal.

Jermaine O'Neal believes that the Raptors have a shot to accomplish something special in Toronto this season.

"Me, Chris Bosh, and Jose (Calderon) sat down after the scrimmage (last week), and it was like, 'Man, we have a real shot here,' " O'Neal said. "We've got a real shot."

"Obviously, we have the talent on paper, and if we mentally believe that and bring that swagger every day, that we're the best team on the floor every time we step on the floor, we've got a shot at doing some great things this year."

O'Neal arrived in Toronto this July in a trade that sent T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and a draft pick to Indiana.

"We just have to remind ourselves ? because we've never been in a situation like this, where we've had so much help and had somebody to really depend on every night ? that this is for a greater cause," said O'Neal. "It's about winning. At the end of the day, if I score two points and we won, and I got 10 rebounds and two blocks, that's great to me."

"I didn't make the playoffs the last two years, had two really tough years physically and mentally, it doesn't really matter. The personal accomplishments don't matter. I understand what I need to do for this team to be successful, and sometimes they're not going to need me to score. They need me to bring the defensive presence."

The Toronto Raptors have unveiled a new alternate jersey for the upcoming 2008-2009 season, the Toronto Star is reporting.

The new strip will primarily be black with a red insert color,and a maple leaf featured on the back neck of the jersey. The Raptors say the maple leaf emphasizes that the Raptors are Canada's team.

"We are very excited about the concept of our new alternate jersey which brings black back into prominence while enhancing our staple color red," said Bryan Colangelo, president and general manager of the Raptors. "The inclusion of a maple leaf on the jersey is a tribute to all of Canada who we proudly represent."

Jermaine O'Neal, one of the biggest names to change addresses this summer, is anxious to get his career started with the Raptors, according to Toronto Sun.

"We followed Jermaine's schedule this summer; some of our team personnel witnessed his progress, and we have the same wish as our fans, to see him as soon as possible," senior Vice-President of Basketball Operations Maurizio Gherardini said. "He's as hungry as can be, and he's going to have quite an impact on this team."

The Raptors don't plan on inviting anyone other than the thirteen players they currently have under guaranteed contract to training camp, according to Toronto Sun.

The team is hoping that such a move will allow them to move smoothly into dress rehearsals for their 13th NBA season.

"We can work right away on our main structure," senior Vice-President of Basketball Operations Maurizio Gherardini said. "We can try and put in things that actually help our team game, work on similar concepts, offense, defense and use the pre-season games as a test, not as a way to try out new players."

During a broadcast on the FAN 590 on Tuesday, Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo mentioned that Andrea Bargnani might see some time at small forward this season in a gigantic starting lineup with Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal.