Roster
| No. | Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | Birth Date | Exp | College |
| 3 | Chauncey Billups | PG | 6-3 | 202 | September 25, 1976 | R | University of Colorado |
| 7 | Dee Brown | SG | 6-1 | 160 | November 29, 1968 | 7 | Jacksonville University |
| 21 | Marcus Camby | C | 6-11 | 220 | March 22, 1974 | 1 | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| 13 | Doug Christie | SG | 6-6 | 200 | May 9, 1970 | 5 | Pepperdine University |
| 25 | Lloyd Daniels | SG | 6-7 | 205 | September 4, 1967 | 4 | Mount San Antonio College |
| 00 | Chris Garner | PG | 5-10 | 156 | February 2, 1975 | R | University of Memphis |
| 54 | Popeye Jones | PF | 6-8 | 250 | June 17, 1970 | 4 | Murray State University |
| 40 | Tim Kempton | PF | 6-10 | 245 | January 25, 1964 | 7 | University of Notre Dame |
| 55 | Bob McCann | SF | 6-6 | 244 | April 22, 1964 | 4 | Morehead State University |
| 1 | Tracy McGrady | SF | 6-8 | 210 | May 24, 1979 | R | None |
| 2 | Oliver Miller | C | 6-9 | 280 | April 6, 1970 | 5 | University of Arkansas |
| 31 | Shawn Respert | SG | 6-1 | 195 | February 6, 1972 | 2 | Michigan State University |
| 34 | Carlos Rogers | PF | 6-11 | 220 | February 6, 1971 | 3 | Tennessee State University |
| 9 | Roy Rogers | PF | 6-10 | 235 | August 19, 1973 | 1 | University of Alabama |
| 35 | Reggie Slater | PF | 6-7 | 215 | August 27, 1970 | 3 | University of Wyoming |
| 40 | Ed Stokes | C | 7-0 | 264 | September 3, 1971 | R | University of Arizona |
| 20 | Damon Stoudamire | PG | 5-10 | 171 | September 3, 1973 | 2 | University of Arizona |
| 3 | Zan Tabak | C | 7-0 | 245 | June 15, 1970 | 3 | Split, Croatia |
| 12 | John Thomas | PF | 6-9 | 265 | September 8, 1975 | R | University of Minnesota |
| 33 | Gary Trent | PF | 6-8 | 250 | September 22, 1974 | 2 | Ohio University |
| 44 | John Wallace | SF | 6-8 | 225 | February 9, 1974 | 1 | Syracuse University |
| 22 | Alvin Williams | SG | 6-5 | 185 | August 6, 1974 | R | Villanova University |
| 42 | Walt Williams | SF | 6-8 | 219 | April 16, 1970 | 5 | University of Maryland |
| 4 | Sharone Wright | C | 6-11 | 260 | January 30, 1973 | 3 | Clemson University |
Transactions
-June 25/97: Raptors draft Durham, N.C. high school star Tracy McGrady from Mount Zion Christian Academy. A 6-8, 210 lb g/f, McGrady is the 9th pick overall after averaging 27.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 7.7 apg at Mount Zion Christian Academy. Prior to the draft, had signed a $12-million endorsement deal with Adidas. McGrady is entitled to contract in the neighbourhood of US$3.9-million over three years.
-June 30/97: Carlos Rogers exercises early termination option to void the remaining years on his contract.
-July 1/97: Walt Williams, Reggie Slater, Clifford Rozier, Carlos Rogers, Oliver Miller, John Long, Martin Lewis and Hubert Davis become free agents.
-July 2/97: Release Hubert Davis. Sign Walt Williams to a multi-year contract.
-July 16/97: Sign guard Doug Christie to a seven-year contract extension worth $22-million (U.S.). Christie agrees to backload the contract so the bulk of funds are due towards end of contract, allowing Raptors to have more money now to obtain other players. Christie finished second in balloting for league’s most improved player in 1996-97 after averaging 14.5 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.48 steals and 38.6 minutes in 81 games.
-July 21/07: Sign Carlos Rogers to a multi-year contract.
-September 15/97: Sign Tracey McGrady to a multi-year contract.
-September 23/97: Sign Julius Nwosu and Brandon Williams to contracts.
-September 25/97: Sign John Coker. Sign Reggie Slater to a multi-year contract.
-October/97: Training camp surprise is Brandon Williams, a 6-6 g/f of Davidson, who’d been playing pro ball in France. National team member 6-5 g Rowan Barrett, who played at St. John’s, is also invited to the training camp. He saw action only in exhibition games. “He’s very solid,” said coach Darrell Walker.
-October 2/97: Sign Chris Garner and Brandon Williams as free agents.
-October 6/97: Sign Martin Lewis.
-October 9/97: As part of a three-team trade the Raptors trade a 2007 2nd round pick to the Portland Trailblazers, a 2000 1st round pick to the New York and obtain John Wallace from the Knicks.
-October 10/97: Waive John Coker, Martin Lewis and Julius Nwosu, who become free agents.
-October 21/97: Claim Ed Stokes on waivers.
-October 28/97: Waive Brandon Williams.
-November 9/97: John Long retires. He becomes a free agent and is waived.
-November 30/97: Sign Oliver Miller as a free agent.
-December 1/97: Waive Ed Stokes.
-December 2/97: Sign Tim Kempton as a free agent.
-January 5/98: Waive Tim Kempton.
-January 6/98: Sign Bob McCann and Lloyd Daniels to 10-day contracts.
-January 12/98: Terminate contract of Bob McCann.
-January 17/98: Sign Lloyd Daniels to a second 10-day contract.
-January 19/98: Sign Mark Baker,, 29-year-old former Ohio State star and the CBA’s leading assist maker, to a two-year guaranteed contract at the league minimum, US$287,000 in year one and US$350,000 in year two.
-February 13/98: After months of rumors and near-trades and griping from Damon Stoudamire, who is due to become a free agent July 1, general manager Glen Grunwald makes his first trade, dealing Stoudamire, forward Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers to Portland for rookie guard Alvin Williams (from Villanova, the 48th pick of the 1997 draft), third-year power forward Gary Trent (the 11th pick of the 1995 draft) and Kenny Anderson as well as two first round picks and a second-round selection in the 1999 draft and the bulk of the $38-million now remaining on Anderson’s five year contract. “I reached the conclusion that it would be next to impossible for us to retain Damon Stoudamire, so in the interest of the franchise, we had to make a change,” Grunwald says. Stoudamire had demanded US$105-million (U.S.)/ seven years to re-sign. Anderson refuses to report to Toronto.
-February 18/98: Trade Kenny Anderson, centre Zan Tabak and forward Popeye Jones to the Boston Celtics for rookie point guard Chauncey Billups (selected 3rd in the 1997 entry draft, from Colorado), veteran shooting guard Dee Brown, second year shot-blocker Roy Rogers and rookie power forward John Thomas (selected 25th in the 1997 entry draft). The moves, along with the Stoudamire deal a week earlier, leaves the Raptors with about $11-million to work with under their salary cap.
-March 19/98: Waive Shawn Respert, who becomes a free agent.
-June 9/98: Trade Roy Rogers and two 1998 first-round draft picks to Houston for Kevin Willis, a 7-0, 36-year-old centre.
Standings
| Eastern Conference | W | L | W/L% | GB | PS/G | PA/G |
| Atlantic Division | ||||||
| Miami Heat | 55 | 27 | .671 | — | 95.0 | 90.0 |
| New York Knicks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12.0 | 91.6 | 89.1 |
| New Jersey Nets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12.0 | 99.6 | 98.1 |
| Washington Wizards | 42 | 40 | .512 | 13.0 | 97.2 | 96.6 |
| Orlando Magic | 41 | 41 | .500 | 14.0 | 90.1 | 91.2 |
| Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 19.0 | 95.9 | 98.5 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 24.0 | 93.3 | 95.7 |
| Central Division | ||||||
| Chicago Bulls | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | 96.7 | 89.6 |
| Indiana Pacers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4.0 | 96.0 | 89.9 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11.0 | 96.6 | 94.6 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12.0 | 95.9 | 92.3 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15.0 | 92.5 | 89.8 |
| Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25.0 | 94.2 | 92.6 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26.0 | 94.5 | 96.4 |
| Toronto Raptors | 16 | 66 | .195 | 46.0 | 94.9 | 104.2 |
| Western Conference | W | L | W/L% | GB | PS/G | PA/G |
| Midwest Division | ||||||
| Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | 101.0 | 94.4 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6.0 | 92.5 | 88.5 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17.0 | 101.1 | 100.4 |
| Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21.0 | 98.8 | 99.5 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42.0 | 91.4 | 97.5 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43.0 | 96.6 | 103.9 |
| Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51.0 | 89.0 | 100.8 |
| Pacific Division | ||||||
| Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | — | 100.6 | 93.4 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | — | 105.5 | 97.8 |
| Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 5.0 | 99.6 | 94.4 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 15.0 | 94.3 | 92.9 |
| Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 34.0 | 93.1 | 98.7 |
| Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 42.0 | 88.3 | 97.4 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 44.0 | 95.9 | 103.3 |
Raptors 1997-98 Player Stats at basketballreference.com
Salaries
| 1 | Walt Williams | $3,750,000 |
| 2 | Sharone Wright | $3,500,000 |
| 3 | Marcus Camby | $2,799,240 |
| 4 | Doug Christie | $2,012,767 |
| 5 | Carlos Rogers | $1,900,000 |
| 6 | Popeye Jones | $1,886,538 |
| 7 | Damon Stoudamire | $1,748,760 |
| 8 | Shawn Respert | $1,602,120 |
| 9 | Tracy McGrady | $1,359,360 |
| 10 | B.J. Tyler | $1,200,000 |
| 11 | Zan Tabak | $950,000 |
| 12 | John Wallace | $903,120 |
| 13 | Reggie Slater | $350,000 |
| 14 | John Long | $272,500 |
| 15 | Ed Stokes | $272,500 |
| 16 | Chris Garner | $242,000 |
Season wrap
Raptors finish 16-66. Miss playoffs. The Raptors stumbled out of the gate and embarked on a club-record 17-game losing streak over the first two months of the season. Average attendance is 16,469.
A year of sniping and bad play. General manager Isiah Thomas resigns after making an unsuccessful ownership bid, prompting Damon Stoudamire to demand to be traded and he is promptly sent off to Portland, for Kenny Anderson and others. Anderson refuses to report to Toronto and is traded to the Celtics. Glen Grunwald is hired as general manager. The Raptors finish 16-66 on the season and on the last day of the season, Grunwald is reduced to standing at centre court on the final night of the season and apologizing to fans. “I understand your sentiments,” he said to a chorus of boos from a small season-ending crowd of 14,578. “Well do everything we can to make this team a team you can be proud of. You have my commitment and our owners’ commitment to do everything we can to get this situation back on track.” With the trades, the Raptors became the youngest team in the NBA, with an average age of 24.6. Meanwhile, late in the year, Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. purchases the Raptors for $179 million and the arena for $288 million.
On March 23/98, owners vote to reopen collective bargaining agreement at end of season. On July 1/98, NBA owners implement a player lockout after the league votes to toss out its old collective agreement, an option allowed the owners once player salaries rose above 52% of league revenues. In 97-98 the salaries took up 58%. Among the issues in the negotiations are the Larry Bird exception which allowed teams to ignore the salary cap when re-signing their own free agents. In 97-98, the cap was $26.9-million. The owners contend it is the Larry Bird rule which allowed salaries to spiral to the $1-billion mark last season. Owners want to phase out rule. Players say they will not accept an inflexible salary cap. Owners propose an escrow account, in which players place monies which exceed a global league salary cap of 54% of income. Players want as an alternative a luxury tax in which contracts with an annual salary of more than $18-million, monies would pay a tax on 50% on any amount over $18-million. A $20-million salary would carry a tax of $1-million, which would be redistributed to low-revenue clubs. The league rejected the proposal. A series of unsuccessful negotiating sessions has owners saying they’ll contemplate using replacement players. After an all-night session, NBA commissioner David Stern and union head Billy Hunter strike a deal to end the lockout January 6/99
The deal sees caps on maximum salaries on players depending upon the number of years of service they’ve had in the NBA. Players with under six years can have a maximum salary of $9-million in the first year of his new deal. Players in years 7-11 can start at $11-million. Players with 10 or more years of service can start as high as $14-million. The maximum raise for Bird players is 12%, based on year one. The maximum for everyone else is 10%. It means that instead of going for a $100-million contract, a player could sign for $9-million, with annual raises of $1.08-million per year for the duration of his agreement. It is perceived as a significant victory for the owners. Under a grandfather clause, existing salaries over the new limits will continue.
Over course of six year agreement (with 9th year option) the percentage of revenues which can be devoted to salaries is unspecified for first three years. It’s $30-million in 98-99, $34-million in 99-00 and based on league revenues after that. It’s 55% in year 4-6 and 57% in year 7.
Rookies get screwed. Teams now have exclusive rights to a player for five years instead of three. Rookies get a four-year scale with right of first refusal for fifth year. Club gets options on 4th year and the right to match competing offers for a fifth-year.
Salary cap exemptions. Middle class exception of $1.75-million in year one, $2-million in year two, $2.25-million in year three and the average salary in years 4-7. The existing $1-million exception is available in year 1, $1.1-million in year 2, and $1.2-million in year 3. Median salary exception in years 4-6 is $1.7-million.
-cost certainty. escrow tax of 10% withheld from players paycheques if percentage of income exceeds 55 per cent in years 4-7 with the players deciding who must pay the 10% tax.
Minimum salaries: rookies $287,500 scaling up to $1-million after 10 years of service.
Other elements: end to opt out clauses in the first five years of all contracts. Sign and trade deals allowed only for contracts longer than three years. Performance bonuses limited to 25% of value of contract. Longer suspensions and higher fines for player misconduct. All players drug tested one per season, with marijuana and illegal steroids added to the banned substances list.
Players vote 175-4 to accept deal. The owners ratify it 29-0.
In the face of universal public disdain, the league announces an abbreviated 50-game schedule.