"This obviously addresses a few areas of need," the Raptors president and general manager said. "Toughness, rebounding, defence: Reggie certainly is capable of filling some of those concerns."

Evans, a 6-8, 245-pound power forward, is considered one of the more physical players in the league, an aspect of the game Toronto has been lacking for years.

While he's not an offensive threat - averaging just 3.3 points a game last season with the Sixers - his rebounding average of 4.6 boards in just 14 minutes per game should earn him some playing time.

"We're changing the dynamic of our club with this move," said Colangelo.

"You can put him alongside Chris Bosh or alongside Andrea Bargnani. You can put him out there with a lot of combinations of players."

Evans is no stranger to physical play, known throughout his seven-year career as someone willing to do the dirty work under the boards. He's also no stranger to Raptors fans for a couple of reasons.

In a game while he was playing in Denver, he was accused of sliding a foot under Bosh while the Raptors power forward was taking a jump shot and then-Toronto centre Rasho Nesterovic drew a flagrant foul later in that same game by hitting Evans in the head.

And in a game March 10, 2006, Evans set a career high with 10 defensive rebounds against Toronto.

The move also creates a bit of financial flexibility for the Raptors , who will be looking to upgrade their shooting guard and small forward positions this summer.

Evans will be paid $4.6 million (all figures U.S.) next season and $5 million in 2010-11; Kapono's deal will pay him $6.2 million this coming season and $6.6 million the next.

Depending on which of their free agents they renounce and whether they extend another qualifying offer to Carlos Delfino, Colangelo said he could have as much as $10 million to spend this summer. However, that would mean all but eliminating the possibility of Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker or Delfino returning.

"We're not done yet," the general manager said.

What this means for the rest of the Raptor front court is unclear.

Bosh, Bargnani, Evans, Kris Humphries and Nathan Jawai are already under contract and the Raptors still have an interest in bringing back veteran Nesterovic. They will have to make a decision about an option they hold on Patrick O'Bryant (they can save more than $300,000 by waiving him before July 1).

"You look at the rest of the field and there's nothing solid there in place to be the backup four and five," said Colangelo. "We're pretty wide open there."

Kapono never really fit with the Raptors after signing a four-year contract as a free agent before the 2007-08 season. The 6-8 Kapono averaged just 8.2 points per game and shot only 42 per cent from three-point range last season.

"They (the Sixers) probably had too many bigs and we probably had too many finesse players," said Colangelo. "Jason performed great at times ... but you make changes, you move on."Colangelo will now turn his attention back to preparing for the June 25 draft. The Raptors will work out four candidates today, the most notable being North Carolina guard Ty Lawson and Louisville forward Earl Clark.