The Toronto Raptors signed Khem Birch to a three-year contract worth $20 million after an impressive showing in the Tampa bubble. Just one year into his contract, no one would bat an eye if Masai Ujiri chose to get rid of him and start over after a highly disappointing season.
Birch couldn’t even average 5.0 points per game this season, as injuries and poor finishing made him one of the least effective offensive options on this team. Rebooting the depth chart with a young, cheaper alternative at center instead of Birch could easily be in the cards this offseason.
The best place to find someone cheap to step into his role is the 2022 NBA Draft, which is full of enticing second-round center targets. Even though there is a big gap between the top big men in this class and the rest of the pack, Toronto should have no trouble finding an eventual spot starter in this range.
These three center prospects should be able to take over for Birch and give the Raptors a more traditional look against bigger teams. Even though they might not have the most refined offensive games, they could outscore Birch during their rookie seasons with Toronto.
3 center prospects who may replace Khem Birch on the Toronto Raptors
3. Trevion Williams, Purdue
While 7-4 Canadian goliath Zach Edey was obviously the more interesting of Matt Painter’s squad, Williams might be the better professional prospect. Williams’ 6-9, 255-pound frame helps him play like an old-school, back-to-the-basket center that scores with an array of post moves.
Williams averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this year, which actually represents a slight decline due to the additional allocation of minutes to Edey. Williams could go from a reasonably average Big 12 starting center to a legit NBA contributor with greater developmental support in Toronto.
Trevion Williams could help the Toronto Raptors ditch Khem Birch.
Williams might have the size and muscle needed to become a solid defender, but he is not the best shot-blocker in the world right now. With a lack of a 3-point shot, Williams does not seem like the type of player that the Raptors have typically invested tons of developmental energy in.
Williams and Birch have similar physical numbers, but the Boilermaker alum could help Toronto get someone with a bit more offensive vigor without breaking the bank. Trading down from 33 to select him could also help Ujiri pick up an additional draft pick.
2. Drew Timme, Gonzaga
While Chet Holmgren will be picked in the top three picks in this class, it was Timme who led Gonzaga in scoring with 18.4 points per game while putting up 6.8 rebounds per contest. Consider that Timme had the least efficient shooting season of his career in 2021-22, and he still shot 59% from the field.
Timme has been a rock-solid interior finisher in the way that Birch was during the Tampa season. With an excellent feel for the game and a surprising array of moves to help him finish from awkward angles, Timme’s offensive production should be able to translate over to the NBA.
Drew Timme will score for the Toronto Raptors.
Timme’s lack of athletic ability will overshadow his gaudy college production. Defensively, he is going to be extremely limited in the NBA. That tradeoff could be enough to take him off some team’s draft boards altogether. The Raptors still should not be deterred by that unfortunate fact.
The Raptors have plenty of solid defenders on the roster already, so sacrificing a bit of it on the interior for the handful of minutes Timme would play every week likely won’t be a huge deal for Toronto. As long as he can hit the post turnarounds Birch was missing, Timme will be worth the pick.
1. Orlando Robinson, Fresno State
While some Raptors fans might be a bit skeptical of going the mid-major route after Malachi Flynn’s iffy Raptors tenure, Robinson has been so dominant for the Bulldogs that he could quickly buck that trend. Robinson would be an upgrade over Birch the second he steps on the floor.
Robinson averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while tallying more than one block and steal per game. Not only is Robinson automatic from eight feet and inside, but he has a smooth jumper that will only get better once Nick Nurse spends more time working with it.
Orlando Robinson could give the Toronto Raptors a first-round talent.
With some tight hips, Robinson isn’t the most fluid player in the world. While that could cause Ujiri to reevaluate how high his long-term ceiling will be, the fact that Robinson already has so many arrows in his quiver should make him a fringe first-round prospect already.
Robinson might be coming from the mid-major ranks, but the fact that he was the most dominant big man in his conference should get NBA executives ready to spend some draft capital on him. Robinson is the type of player who could immediately kick Birch to the curb.