5 Buy-low centers the Raptors can trade for to back up Jakob Poeltl
No. 3: Day'Ron Sharpe
The Brooklyn Nets are in all-out rebuild mode, looking to completely reset their roster and build a new group to compete down the line. They also just paid center Nic Claxton and drafted Noah Clowney, who looked solid in Summer League. That all computes together to mean the franchise likely does not want to pay backup center Day'Ron Sharpe when his contract comes due next summer.
Enter the Raptors, who can scoop him up and groom him as the future replacement for Poeltl, or at worst have a bouncy backup big to bring in off the bench. Sharpe is a high-end athlete and energy big who smashes the boards on both ends of the court and has the ranginess to execute different defensive schemes, even if he isn't truly elite on that end. He would be an exciting fit with Immanuel Quickley running with bench units. If things go well the Raptors can use restricted free agency next year to work out a deal that both sides are comfortable with.
No. 2: Larry Nance Jr.
The New Orleans Pelicans' best lineups over the past couple of seasons included Larry Nance Jr. at center, but he was unable to sustain starter-level minutes because his body begins to break down. The Pelicans therefore had to look elsewhere for a starting center, including him in the trade package sent to the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray.
The Hawks don't need Nance, however, not with Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu ahead of him in the center pecking order. They likely are open to moving him on to another team, and the Raptors should check in on the price to acquire him. In a small role he can be a truly effective weapon, a good defender and rebounder who is comfortable shooting the ball from deep, with enough of a track record that he has to be defended out there.
He would be an excellent fit next to Scottie Barnes, spacing the court on offense while executing a switching scheme with him on defense. He has just one year left on his contract for $11 million and would be a savvy veteran addition to the team.