Roster

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Birth Date Exp College
12 Rafer Alston PG 6-2 171 July 24, 1976 3 California State University, Fresno
14 Maceo Baston PF 6-9 215 May 29, 1975 R University of Michigan
5 Michael Bradley PF 6-10 245 April 18, 1979 1 Villanova University
54 Damone Brown PF 6-9 200 June 28, 1979 1 Syracuse University
15 Vince Carter SG 6-6 215 January 26, 1977 4 University of North Carolina
33 Antonio Davis C 6-9 215 October 31, 1968 9 University of Texas at El Paso
44 Greg Foster C 6-11 240 October 3, 1968 12 University of Texas at El Paso
54 Zendon Hamilton C 6-11 250 April 27, 1975 2 St. John’s University
7 Nate Huffman C 7-1 245 April 2, 1975 R Central Michigan University
11 Lindsey Hunter PG 6-2 170 December 3, 1970 9 Jackson State University
8 Jermaine Jackson SG 6-4 204 June 7, 1976 2 University of Detroit Mercy
1 Chris Jefferies SF 6-8 225 February 13, 1980 R California State University, Fresno
2 Voshon Lenard SG 6-4 205 May 14, 1973 7 University of Minnesota
42 Art Long SF 6-9 250 October 1, 1972 2 University of Cincinnati
4 Jelani McCoy C 6-10 245 December 6, 1977 4 University of California, Los Angeles
32 Mamadou N’Diaye C 7-0 255 June 16, 1975 2 Auburn University
24 Morris Peterson SF 6-7 218 August 26, 1977 2 Michigan State University
20 Alvin Williams PG 6-5 185 August 6, 1974 5 Villanova University
13 Jerome Williams PF 6-9 206 May 10, 1973 6 Georgetown University

Transactions

-June 26/02: With the 20th pick of the draft, the Raptors select Kareem Rush of Missouri. They promptly trade his draft rights, along with Tracy Murray, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the draft rights of 27th pick Chris Jefferies, the rights to guard Lindsey Hunter and a 2003 2nd round draft pick.

-June 28/02: Keon Clark given qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent.

-July 1/02: Chris Childs, Keon Clark, Dell Curry and Derrick Dial become free agents.

-July 22/02: Withdraw qualifying offer to Keon Clark, making him an unrestricted free agent.

-July 26/02: Sign Nate Huffman to a multi-year contract as a free agent.

-August 26/02: Exercise team option to extend contract of Morris Peterson.

-September 20/02: Sign Jeff Myers to a contract.

-September 25/02: Trade Michael Stewart and a 2007 1st round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Lamond Murray and a 2004 2nd round draft pick. Sign Jerod Ward to a contract.

-September 30/02: Sign Chris Jeffries and Jelani McCoy to contracts.

-October 13/02: Waive Jerod Ward.

-October 21/02: Sign Vashon Lenard as a free agent.

-October 25/02: Waive Jermaine Jackson.

-October 2/8/02: Waive Jeff Myers.

-November 6/02: Sign Greg Foster as a free agent.

-November 20/02: Sign Jermaine Jackson to a contract.

-January 7/03: Waive Greg Foster and Jermaine Jackson. Sign Rafer Alston and Art Long to contracts.

-January 13/03: Sign Damone Brown as a free agent after he is granted a third roster exemption under the NBA special hardship rule.

-January 16/03: Terminate Nate Huffman’s contract and waive him. An independent arbitrator subsequently ruled that the Raptors had to pay Huffman the remaining $2.56 million on his $5.2 million three-year contract. The Raptors had claimed that Huffman had failed to disclose a history of knee problems before signing the contract. But the NBA Players Association filed a grievance and the arbitrators ruling in “Nategate” went against the Raptors.

-January 18/03: Sign Rafter Alston for remainder of the season. Extend Art Long’s contract.

-January 23/03: Waive Damone Brown.

-January 27/03: Sign Zendon Hamilton to 10-day contract.

-February 10/03: Sign Maceo Baston for remainder of the season. Waive Zendon Hamilton.

-June 20/03: Make qualifying offer to Maceo Baston.

Standings

Eastern Conference W L W/L% GB PS/G PA/G
Atlantic Division            
New Jersey Nets 49 33 .598 95.4 90.1
Philadelphia 76ers 48 34 .585 1.0 96.8 94.5
Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 5.0 92.7 93.1
Orlando Magic 42 40 .512 7.0 98.5 98.4
Washington Wizards 37 45 .451 12.0 91.5 92.5
New York Knicks 37 45 .451 12.0 95.9 97.2
Miami Heat 25 57 .305 24.0 85.6 90.6
Central Division            
Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 91.4 87.7
Indiana Pacers 48 34 .585 2.0 96.8 93.3
New Orleans Hornets 47 35 .573 3.0 93.9 91.8
Milwaukee Bucks 42 40 .512 8.0 99.5 99.3
Atlanta Hawks 35 47 .427 15.0 94.1 97.6
Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 20.0 95.0 100.1
Toronto Raptors 24 58 .293 26.0 90.9 96.8
Cleveland Cavaliers 17 65 .207 33.0 91.4 101.0
Western Conference W L W/L% GB PS/G PA/G
Midwest Division            
San Antonio Spurs 60 22 .732 95.8 90.4
Dallas Mavericks 60 22 .732 103.0 95.2
Minnesota Timberwolves 51 31 .622 9.0 98.1 96.0
Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 13.0 94.7 92.3
Houston Rockets 43 39 .524 17.0 93.8 92.3
Memphis Grizzlies 28 54 .341 32.0 97.5 100.7
Denver Nuggets 17 65 .207 43.0 84.2 92.4
Pacific Division            
Sacramento Kings 59 23 .720 101.7 95.2
Los Angeles Lakers 50 32 .610 9.0 100.4 98.0
Portland Trail Blazers 50 32 .610 9.0 95.2 92.5
Phoenix Suns 44 38 .537 15.0 95.5 94.4
Seattle SuperSonics 40 42 .488 19.0 92.1 92.3
Golden State Warriors 38 44 .463 21.0 102.4 103.6
Los Angeles Clippers 27 55 .329 32.0 93.8 97.9

Raptors 2002-03 Player Stats at basketballreference.com

Salaries

1 Antonio Davis $12,000,000
2 Vince Carter $10,067,750
3 Hakeem Olajuwon $5,694,231
4 Alvin Williams $5,350,000
5 Jerome Williams $5,250,000
6 Lamond Murray $4,125,000
7 Lindsey Hunter $3,870,912
8 Eric Montross $2,720,000
9 Michael Bradley $1,207,800
10 Morris Peterson $1,033,320
11 Mamadou N’diaye $848,520
12 Voshon Lenard $824,935
13 Chris Jefferies $781,800
14 Jelani McCoy $637,435
15 Greg Foster $401,951
16 Nate Huffman $349,458
17 Jermaine Jackson $171,932
18 Rafer Alston $37,344
19 Art Long $35,819

Season wrap

        Toronto finishes 24-58 out of the playoffs. A totally dispiriting season. Vince Carter suffered an early knee injury, while Antonio Davis repeatedly expressed disinterest. Wilkens was vilified in the media for refusing to crack down on the discontents and was fired after the campaign.