"From there, if one, two, even all of them can make the team into the regular season, that's the goal," Tolzman said. "We really want to tap this local source and the more word gets out about basketball in the Toronto area, it will just get bigger and bigger."

The incoming franchise will be the only Canadian squad out of 19 teams in the D-League. Like most D-League affiliates, Raptors 905 will play relatively close to its parent club.

The Raptors plan to have a synergistic approach in working and training with Raptors 905. Mermuys said working closely with Raptors players should be motivational for the D-Leaguers.

"Basically, the NBA is half a step away for them," he said. "Also, for our (young) players that are currently on the Raptors roster, they'll be able to bounce back and forth so easily between the two teams that it will help them develop."

To help Raptors 905 feet off the ground from a business perspective, staff from the Mississauga Power, the National Basketball League of Canada franchise that previously occupied the Hershey Centre, are staying on board in a consulting role.

Tuesday's meet and greet was hosted by the Mississauga Pro Basketball Business Council, a group headed by former Power owner Henry Chow.

On Wednesday, Raptors 905 rounded out its coaching staff with the addition of assistant coaches Tim Lewis, Nathaniel Mitchell and David Gale.

As a feeder system to the Raptors, the new club intends to put player development at the forefront.

"That takes precedence over wins and losses," Mermuys said.