The Raptors may not be a whole lot better now that president Bryan Colangelo is about finished filling out his roster.

But they most certainly are older.

Aside from 32-year-old swingman Rasual Butler, who signed with the team Saturday, the Raptors are poised to add 36-year-old point guard Anthony Carter as early as Sunday, putting some age at the end of the team’s bench.

In another day of whirlwind activity trying to get bodies in that may be serviceable this year and not cause any disruption to the financial plan for the future.

While they lost a chance to acquire Mickael Pietrus, who has returned to Phoenix to continue rehabilitation from off-season knee surgery, the Raptors have picked up some much needed experience in Butler, who is going into his 10th season, and Carter, who is entering his 13th.

“That’s one of the main reasons whoever else we bring in is going to have some experience,” coach Dwane Casey said after watching Butler go through his first workout and anticipating Carter’s arrival on Sunday. “What we want to do is put veteran players, veteran leadership around Andrea and DeMar and James and our young guys.”

The Raptors also have plans to add a couple of relative kids to a roster that should be complete early next week.

They have extended an offer sheet to second-year swingman Gary Forbes and the Denver Nuggets are not expected to match it, paving the way for Forbes to join Toronto on Tuesday.

And the Raptors are also going to sign 7-foot centre Aaron Gray to a one-year deal on Sunday.

Butler, who has played for five teams over the course of his career, figures he cannot only provide some leadership to a young team but some much needed shooting depth. A career 36 per cent shooter from three-point range, he’s already one of the most prolific outside shooters on the Raptors roster.

“I was really impressed with him today,” Casey said of the 6-7 swingman Butler. “He’s a three-point shooter, he’s an experienced player in this league. He had every excuse to come in today and not really give it to us, he flew in from L.A. on an all-night flight but I was really impressed with his play. He knows how to play and he adds that veteran feel to our group.

“Defensively, I was just as impressed. He knew where to be, knew how to rotate, so we were impressed with him from that standpoint.”

Butler’s one-year deal won’t have any impact on Colangelo’s future plans and he could work himself into a longer deal if he lives up to his billing. The fact the Raptors were aggressive in pursuing him to fill glaring holes made Toronto a logical next step.

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“You pretty much just have to be vocal on the basketball floor, talking and communicating on the defensive end,” he said. “If you see guys not doing something right, trying to correct them and also being able to take criticism when you make a mistake.

“They wanted me. It’s always good to be wanted. They weren’t asking me to wait to make another move or see what happens, they wanted me to come right away.”