Toronto Raptors

Whether the Toronto Raptors need a big man or not is a subject of debate. Last season, they frequently deployed Pascal Siakam at the position, maximizing the number of big wings they had on the floor at any given moment.

Furthermore, their positional need is even more debatable following the draft. The Raptors selected Christian Koloko in the second round. Koloko is raw, having only picked up the sport a few short years ago. Still, some have him pegged as a potential steal.

If the Toronto Raptors feel they need a starting-caliber, traditional big man, they should pursue Ayton. If they don’t feel that way, it’s a justifiable position.

After all, the Raptors’ experimental brand of basketball yielded some success in 2021-22. Granted, a first-round playoff exit isn’t a wildly successful season, but its an acceptable mark when a rookie (Scottie Barnes) is such a prominent part of your rotation.

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If the Toronto Raptors preferred to stay the course rather than sink assets into a sign-and-trade for Ayton, we wouldn’t blame them.