Toronto Raptors: Who will play center for Raptors in 2020?

Tristan Thompson 6’9″ power-forward/center

The fifth veteran free agent on this list is perhaps more nostalgic than prudent, but Tristan Thompson returning home could rekindle his career. The six-foot-nine inch Canadian, drafted fourth overall in 2011, by the Cleveland Cavaliers, has championship pedigree.

He was a member of those Cleveland Cavalier teams that went to four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-2018, winning once in 2016. Experience-wise, Tristan Thompson is a warrior of 78 NBA Playoff games averaging 29.8 minutes per game and 7.7 points a game.

For his career, Tristan Thompson is averaging 9.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. In 2020, he averaged a double-double scoring 12 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. A career 28 percent marksman from three-point range, Thompson shot 39.1 percent from long-range in 2020.

His scoring and rebounding definitely would help the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were 13th overall offensively in 2020 and just 12th overall in rebounding, according to teamrankings.com. Tristan Thompson made 23.2 million dollars in 2020. If the salary cap is reduced due to the COVID-19 financial woes, the NBA is sure to have suffered; the Toronto Raptors might be able to get Tristan Thompson on a one or two-year deal at 17-20 million per season.