With 71 veteran players from last season sporting new uniforms at the start of the 2009-10 National Basketball Association wars as a result of trades or free agency, many fans might be wondering where their favorites now play.

The Toronto Raptors, who hope to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence under the tutelage of Canadian-born coach Jay Triano, lead the way with six newcomers with past NBA experience.

The Raps’ biggest veteran acquisition, of course, is 6-8 do-everything “point” forward Hedo Turkoglu. The 30-year-old native of Turkey was a free agent last summer and left the 2009 NBA runner-up Orlando Magic after five seasons as part of a four-team trade that also involved Dallas, Memphis and Toronto.

Toronto’s other veteran newcomers are 6-3 guard Jarrett Jack (formerly of Indiana, free agent), 6-8 forward Reggie Evans (Philadelphia, trade), 6-7 guard Antoine Wright (Dallas, trade), 6-5 Italian guard Marco Belinelli (Golden State, trade) and 7-0 Slovenian center Rasho Nesterovic (Indiana, free agent).

The powderpuff Minnesota Timberwolves, who are now being coached by former LA Lakers assistant mentor Kurt Rambis, own the second most number of veteran transferees with five.

They are 6-3 playmaker Ramon Sessions (formerly of Milwaukee), 6-6 forward Damien Wilkins (Oklahoma City), 7-0 center Oleksiy Pecherov (Washington), 6-7 forward Sasha Pavlovic (Cleveland) and 6-10 forward Nathan Jawai (Toronto). Pecherov hails from Ukraine, Pavlovic comes from Serbia and Jawai is a native of Australia.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, both of whom play in the Central Division, each employ four players who switched residences from last season.

The Cavs’ newcomers are 7-1 center Shaquille O’Neal (Phoenix, trade), 6-8 forward Jamario Moon (Miami, free agent), 6-6 guard Anthony Parker (Toronto, free agent), and 6-8 forward Leon Powe (Boston, free agent – out until midseason due to an injury).

The Pistons’ veteran recruits are 6-11 forward Charlie Villanueva (Milwaukee, free agent), 6-3 London-born guard Ben Gordon (Chicago, free agent), 6-9 center Ben Wallace (Cleveland, free agent), and 6-10 forward Chris Wilcox (New York, free agent).

Ten teams – New Jersey, Orlando, Washington, Indiana, San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, LA Clippers, Golden State and Sacramento – have a trio of newcomers with previous NBA credentials on their respective season-opening rosters.

Of the 30 squads in the 64-year pro league, only Utah did not acquire a veteran newcomer although the Jazz have two rookies – Eric Maynor and Wesley Matthews – in their lineup.

Only three Asians – one less than a year ago – earned NBA roster berths at the starting gates. These are Houston’s Yao Ming (out for the season due to left foot surgery last May) and New Jersey’s Yi Jianlian from China and Memphis’ Hamed Haddadi from two-time FIBA Asia champion Iran.

No former Philippine Basketball Association import made the NBA grade.