3 moves the Toronto Raptors should have made this summer but didn’t

Addressing frontcourt issues

We understand that earlier this month, the Toronto Raptors extended a non-guaranteed contract offer to former Atlanta Hawks center Bruno Fernando. At the very least, this move demonstrates that Toronto's front office recognizes the need for additional help in strengthening its frontcourt. While Fernando has the talent to emerge as a capable backup big man, this does not imply that the Raptors have adequately addressed their issues with centers and forwards.

Last season, when Jakob Poeltl was sidelined by injury, the Raptors struggled significantly to secure rebounds and effectively compete in the paint without him. Similarly, when Poeltl was on the court, the spacing around the starting five became problematic due to the lack of forwards—particularly with Pascal Siakam still on the team—and big men capable of shooting from beyond the arc. Scottie Barnes proved he could knock down a three-point shot here and there, but it was far from a specialty in his offensive arsenal.

Toronto missed a significant opportunity to acquire a floor-spacing big man during the draft when they chose to forgo Duke forward/center Kyle Filipowski with the 31st pick. Instead, they selected Jonathan Mogbo, a USF (University of San Francisco) product and a close friend of Scottie Barnes. Although the undersized Mogbo is generally categorized as a power forward or small-ball center, the Raptors are in urgent need of a reliable big man whose natural position is center, and that's exactly what Filipowski was.

At last year's trade deadline, Toronto made strides to address their need for a floor-spacing forward by acquiring Kelly Olynyk from the Utah Jazz, bringing him back to his hometown team. Although Olynyk has secured a stable role in the rotation for the upcoming season, he does not possess the bull-strong, gritty playing style that Toronto could greatly benefit from. He is better suited for backup power forward minutes.

Signing Bruno Fernando represents a positive step forward; however, it does not ensure him a guaranteed spot on the roster for the upcoming season. At just 25 years old, Bruno Fernando has already developed into the player he is likely to remain for the duration of his career, as his potential to evolve into a star is somewhat limited. Toronto boasts a wealth of talented young players across various positions; however, the center position remains particularly uncertain, primarily due to the inconsistencies of Jakob Poeltl, who is also considered overpaid.

It's possible that two-way player Ulrich Chomche, selected by the Raptors with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, could develop into Toronto's center of the future. However, this is an optimistic prospect for a player who still has much to refine, especially considering the team's desire to compete in the playoffs as soon as possible.The same can be said for Mogbo, who possesses his own talent, yet may not be well-suited for center minutes. In conclusion, it would have been beneficial for Toronto's front office to secure a high-potential big man for the future, whether as a backup to Poeltl or as a potential successor to his role.