The Toronto Raptors have played the 2022-23 NBA season without much for options at the center position. Going small or using inexperienced options has been the typical approach and as the trade deadline nears, making an upgrade is necessary.
After being linked to no shortage of centers in the offseason — including Rudy Gobert before he was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster trade — they did not get such a deal done. In the context of being a competitive team, they have unfinished business to address.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, the Raptors have Myles Turner, Deandre Ayton, and Jakob Poeltl on their radar as possible trade deadline targets.
Myles Turner and Deandre Ayton have been two other centers on Toronto’s radar, sources said. And former Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, who left the franchise with DeMar DeRozan as part of a 2018 offseason blockbuster to land Kawhi Leonard, remains a target of Toronto’s front office, as Yahoo Sports reported in December.
Before the Raptors push to make a trade for a center upgrade at the midseason deadline, they must determine the direction they want to take as a franchise. Do they believe they can actually make noise in the playoffs if they get into the play-in tournament, or would it be better to sell at the deadline?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Toronto Raptors, Myles Turner, Jakob Poeltl & Deandre Ayton Updates
The Raptors would take a real risk by acquiring either Turner or Poeltl at the deadline without a genuine commitment to re-sign in free agency. Both players are currently in the final year of their current contracts.
Ayton is playing in the first of a four-year, $133 million contract that he signed in the offseason. The offer sheet was signed with the Indiana Pacers but was matched by the Phoenix Suns in restricted free agency. If the Suns opt to reconfigure their roster at the NBA trade deadline during their recent slide, perhaps they’d be open to do so.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Toronto Raptors, Myles Turner, Jakob Poeltl & Deandre Ayton Updates
There is still plenty of basketball left to play before the trade deadline comes to pass. The Raptors may need to use some of that to determine how they want to approach the rest of their season ahead of the loaded 2023 NBA Draft class that transcendent talent Victor Wembenyama headlines.
