5 Buy-low centers the Raptors can trade for to back up Jakob Poeltl

No. 5: Kevon Looney

The Golden State Warriors don't win the 2022 title without Kevon Looney, and he was equally pivotal in their 2023 series win over Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings. Since then, the lack of spacing and a step back from Looney athletically have pushed him out of the rotation, and he is now expendable to a team that once relied on him.

Just because the Warriors don't have a need for him doesn't mean he can't still help a team like the Raptors, who would benefit not just from his veteran experience and wisdom but also his on-court play. Looney is a savvy defender and an elite rebounder, and he has always been an underrated passer. He would be a steady hand to play a small role behind Poeltl and able to capably fill in as a starter when and if Poeltl misses time.

No. 4: Luka Garza

The Minnesota Timberwolves are paying $106 million to three centers, with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns both making over $40 million and Naz Reid making $14 million himself. They are already hard-pressed to find enough minutes for the trio; it's a difficult proposition to balance a rotation when three of your five best players all play the same position.

That depth at the position has masked the development of another center, Luka Garza, who went from a two-way contract to a full deal. Once one of the best players in college basketball, he has bucked the trend of dominant college centers being unable to make the transition to the NBA. He scores at a prolific rate, has surprisingly quick hands on defense and is likely ready for a full rotation role as a backup center somewhere. He's on a minimum deal and should be relatively inexpensive to acquire in a deal.