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Toronto Raptors 2022-23 season preview: PF/C Khem Birch

ByAvishai Sol|
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the LA Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the LA Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The Toronto Raptors’ mission to find a true five-man to contend with the league’s top-tier bigs had fans hounding their trade machines and free-agency trackers all summer. Taking the 7-foot Christian Koloko seemed like a step in the right direction. That’s before you realize that they’ve had a traditional center in 6-9 bruiser Khem Birch.

The young Koloko may be an intriguing unknown, but as a second-round rookie, the Arizona sophomore will likely split his time this year between the Raptors and the 905. Instead, it’ll be the sound fundamental play and veteran presence of Montreal’s finest that will fill the Raptors’ need at the center position, at least for now.

The closest thing Toronto has to an old-school bruising big man, the skills he provided being able to match physically with the most imposing interior forces in the NBA allowed Toronto to lean on more traditional lineups. That’s quite a valuable asset.

The Raptors are still tied to Birch for the next two years, which will instill him as a part of the roster for 2022-23. Will Birch end up being a solid player for Toronto, or will the demons from last year continue to impact him? If the answer is the latter, that could be devastating.

Toronto Raptors: How valuable is Khem Birch?

Stats: 4.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 BPG, 49% FG

He didn’t “wow” anyone with his performance last season. Birch’s box score stats might look like the kind of stats that would buy him a one-way ticket to the Shanghai Sharks, but we know stats can be misleading, especially when he played through tons of injuries.

Last season the Raptors were seventh in the league in denying points in the paint and ninth in the league in defensive rating, but 24th in the league in denying second-chance points. Birch could be a very positive asset for this roster in the right physical state.

Positives

In the 55 games Birch played last season, the Raptors’ winning percentage rose to 62%. He was one of the team’s best interior defenders, despite being sixth on the team in blocks per game), His experience as a pick-and-roll man shows. Rookies are fun, but sometimes you just need an adult in the room, both on and off the floor.

Negatives

Birch likely won’t start in the rotation, but he’ll probably hold his spot on the roster for this season. His 3-point shooting all but evaporated this year, and his Tampa performance offensively looked more like a small sample size anomaly than a positive trend. Will that continue this year, or will a trade happen?

Expectations

We NBA fans are quick to crown unproven rookies with rotation minutes and roster spots, but sometimes the solution is in-house all along. Koloko is more talented than Khem Birch, and he’ll get his chance. For now, as a team trying to piece together a playoff run, the Raptors may have to go with the fundamentally sound option.