Three centers the Toronto Raptors should try and trade for
By Jack Long
Although the Toronto Raptors aren’t the dominant force they’ve been in recent years – they’re only a few pieces away and getting a center should be their biggest priority.
The Toronto Raptors are in a weird spot. They currently sit at a 3-8 record and are mulling around the bottom of the standings. At the same time, they’ve been right there to the very end in their last few games and are a few bounces away from sitting at .500.
Saying that the Toronto Raptors are still nowhere close to being competitive in an ever-strengthening Eastern Conference. There are a few tweaks Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster need to make to this roster to become a contender. The biggest of those has to be to add some competence and skill to the center position.
Aron Baynes and Alex Len have been immediate regrets as free agent signings for the Toronto Raptors. Nick Nurse is at the point where he puts one of them in the starting lineup for 5 minutes than neither of them see any floor time again.
Chris Boucher is forming into a star before our very eyes. Although he is a great shooter and rim protector – he can not be counted on to defend against some of the powerful and physical all-star centers in the NBA. Unless he can put on some Giannis gains, he’ll never be that guy for the Toronto Raptors.
Masai Ujiri is one of the best executives in the league and you know he already is working a plan. Center has to be the big fish he is hoping to land, let’s take a peek at some options.
Cody Zeller
Cody Zeller isn’t the most exciting player in the league, but he is a Swiss Army Knife type who can get it done from anywhere on the floor.
Zeller is a smart player who also can play the physical game. He holds some skill around the post and is fairly mobile for a center. He runs the floor hard and can catch defences sleeping on his abilities time after time.
Master of the pick-and-roll, Zeller would be a great help to the Toronto Raptors guards.
Cody Zeller isn’t going to give you 20 points a game or be counted on for a triple-double a night, but he is a solid center who will increase the efficiency of any offence.