And there it is.
If you recall from my article the other day, I mentioned that Saturday, April 12, would be a crucial date for the Toronto Raptors to finalize their roster decisions and issue a contract.
They have done just that by recalling Colin Castleton, a recently signed 10-day talent, according to Keith Pompey and as noted by Sportsnet's Raptors analyst Blake Murphy on X:
Raptors have re-signed center Colin Castleton to a new deal
Castelton will be back on the same deal as Lawson: Final game of the season and next year, but 2025-26 is fully non-guaranteed.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) April 12, 2025
Lawson & Castelton get the nod over Swider & Robinson for staying in the summer development program / early camp competitions. https://t.co/CTKmMjw0ES
He joined the Raptors on a 10-day deal back on March 5, after spending time as a two-way player with the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies in his previous NBA stints. Despite his relatively slender build, Castleton stands tall at 6-foot-10, using his impressive length to score effectively down low. However, his three-point shot could use some refinement.
In that initial 10-game sample with Toronto, Castleton posted decent statistical averages: 6.9 points on 47.4% shooting from the field, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in approximately 26 minutes of play per game.
After the conclusion of Castleton's 10-day agreement, the Raptors chose not to retain him. The 24-year-old then signed a new 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. During his time with the Sixers, he posted averages similar to those in Toronto, though he played fewer minutes.
In the 2024-25 season, across his two stints in Toronto and Philly, Casteton's collective averages are: 4.5 points on 45.1% field goal efficiency, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
Clearly, the Raptors see potential in Castleton, as evidenced by bringing him back on this new deal. This move suggests he will be vying for a final roster spot while the team navigates Summer League, training camp, and the preseason.
I'm actually quite surprised that the Raptors chose to go with Castleton for their third-string big instead of Orlando Robinson, who has impressed during his brief time up north. The decision to waive Robinson honestly caught many in Raptors Nation off guard.
It's not that I don't think Castleton is a decent talent in his own right. However, given Robinson's longer tenure with the Raptors and his demonstrated growth and presence, I expected the team to reward him over the newly-arrived Castleton.
Perhaps something happened behind the scenes, such as contractual negotiations falling short, because it’s hard for me to believe Toronto would pull the plug on ORob that quickly.
But that's beside the point now; fans can fully shift their focus to Colin Castleton's journey within the Raptors. Will he rise to the occasion, or will he simply serve as a placeholder?