What the Toronto Raptors need to do to win the NBA Finals in the next five years

No. 2: Find a two-way stretch center

Scottie Barnes has already put in the work to become more confident shooting from outside, but he will never be an elite shooter. To build a high-end offense next to him, having a center who can space the court would mean a lot.

At the same time, a shooter at the 5 who doesn't protect the paint or clean the glass doesn't help the overlal team, either. A player like Kelly Olynyk can be helpful in a small role, but the Raptors need to find a center who can both shoot 3-pointers and protect the paint.

Marc Gasol fit the bill the last time the Raptors won it all. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is a model of who Scottie Barnes can become, Brook Lopez is the model of a player to target. As NBA players become even more skilled it's no longer an impossible archetype to chase, but it certainly won't be easy.

Drafting and developing a player is possible in the window available, and young stretch bigs like Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama have shown an impact early on. Yet it's more likely the Raptors will need to shop for an option in free agency or on the trade market.

Perhaps someone like Wendell Carter Jr. could fill the role and be available on the trade market, or a lower-tier option like Jalen Smith could be developed into the role. If Brook Lopez still has enough in the tank he would be an interesting target. The question doesn't have an obvious answer, but to maximize the two-way force of the roster, a two-way big means a lot.