4 impact centers the Toronto Raptors could potentially trade for

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics defends a shot from Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

We are a little over the halfway point in the season, and the Toronto Raptors have looked surprisingly good heading into the All-Star break. For a franchise that appeared to be in rebuild mode for a brief period, this team has looked more like a playoff squad that requires one or two short-term fixes.

The squad has surged since COVID-19 took out most of the roster, as they are sitting with a record of 26-23. With the February 10th NBA trade deadline looming, the Raptors look like potential buyers in this market with assets like Goran Dragic and Chris Boucher on the market.

Nick Nurse’s reluctance to trust anyone outside of the starters was on full display when the starting five played a colossal 265 minutes combined in the triple-overtime thriller in South Beach last Saturday. The rotation has been extremely tight, with seven or eight players taking most of the minutes available.

Although the starters are keeping them competitive in most games, this team needs all the help they can get in bench scoring and interior defense.

With Khem Birch often injured and no one dependable enough to sub in, here are 4 potential trade options at the center position that could bolster this roster moving forward.

4 centers the Toronto Raptors could trade for.

4. Robert Williams, Boston Celtics

It’s currently a close race for the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, with the Celtics hanging on to the ninth spot just below Toronto. The Celtics have struggled this year, but none of that falls on the shoulders of Williams.

Williams has been outstanding relative to his contract, as he earned a four-year extension that will kick in in 2022. He has rewarded the Celtics by averaging 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game (good for fourth in the league) while finishing a red-hot 73% from the field.

He’s not your modern-day center who can space the floor, but he addresses the Raptors’ need for a quality big man who can haul boards and swat shots into the stands. He has limited scoring ability and does most of his damage inside the paint, but at just 24 years old, Williams has a lot of room to improve his offensive arsenal.

Robert Williams would make sense for the Toronto Raptors.

He can be an elite defender who is active on the boards, which has allowed him to finish strong on putbacks and catch lobs. At 6-8, he is undersized compared to bigger frontcourt players out there. However, his ridiculous 7-6 wingspan combined with his athleticism and 240-pound frame allows him to stand his ground and not get bullied.

Williams will be on the books through to the 2025-26 season, so he would be a part of the team’s long-term plans if acquired. His current contract looks like a steal if Masai Ujiri can find some way to make the money match up.