The Raptors’ center problems are still hanging around, and Nate Bittle is starting to look like the kind of answer that can matter.
That idea got a boost from Sam Vecenie, who on a late-night stream after moving the Game Theory podcast to Barstool Sports was asked about standout two-way players and quickly brought up Toronto’s big man. Vecenie also pointed to how thin center depth is across the league and said he had Bittle as a top-50 player in the 2026 NBA Draft class. More importantly for Raptors fans, he made it clear he sees Bittle as someone who can become a real piece once he’s healthy and help stabilize a position group that has been an issue.
The appeal is easy to see after what Bittle showed in Summer League. His size jumps off the page, and so does the maturity in his game. He looks like a player with an NBA-ready body and the kind of processing speed that should keep him from looking overwhelmed when he finally gets his debut.
That wasn’t the expectation not long ago.
When Bittle first showed up for the Raptors in Las Vegas, the reaction was far more cautious. He had spent five years at Oregon, and heading into last college season he was viewed as a top-40 prospect.
But Oregon struggled badly, and Bittle’s own numbers slipped with it. He shot a career-low 46.5 percent from the field, and the three-point leap that had been projected before the season never really arrived.
With his offense regressing and questions already lingering about whether he could keep up athletically at the NBA level, he looked like a tough sell as a prospect.
Vegas changed that. Bittle flashed as a high-feel 7-footer who can hurt teams both as a roller and as a popper.
He also showed real touch as a short-roll decision-maker, stopping in the lane and finding passes from there in a way that drew comparisons to Jakob Poeltl. On the other end, he gave Toronto something it can use: rim protection in drop coverage, the same area that helped him stand out in college.
The numbers from his four Summer League games backed up the eye test. Bittle averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three on four attempts a night.
There still isn’t a clear timetable for his return, so the Raptors don’t know exactly when they’ll get him on the floor. But when he is ready, the expectation is that he can step in and help right away. For a team that badly needs inexpensive, effective help at center, that’s not a small thing.
In Other News...
Raptors Center Search Suddenly Has One Intriguing New Trade Target
Wendell Carter Jr. has quietly become one of the more interesting big men to watch around the league, and his season with the Orlando Magic has only sharpened that profile. For a Raptors team still sorting through its long-term answer in the middle, Carters blend of size, versatility and two-way usefulness makes him an easy name to circle when the conversation turns to possible upgrades.
The problem, as always, is getting from intrigue to reality. Toronto would have to navigate a tricky financial picture and the kind of salary-cap hurdles that can stall even a sensible idea before it gets off the ground, which is why this remains more of a future possibility than a live negotiation for now. Still, if the Magics direction changes or Toronto keeps looking for a center who fits multiple roles, Carters name is one that could linger on the Raptors radar. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face A Tough Allen Graves Decision As Ceiling Comes Into Focus
Without Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors have been forced to take a hard look at where they stand and what kind of move could actually lift the roster back into contention. One name that keeps surfacing is rookie forward Allen Graves, whose blend of value and upside makes him one of the few real assets Toronto could use to upgrade the starting lineup. The problem is that the front office is operating with limited ways to add first-round picks, which makes every possible path feel more expensive and more complicated.
Graves also represents the kind of decision teams hate most: the player you want to keep because he fits the long-term picture, and the player you may have to move because the present is demanding more. Toronto has to weigh its future draft flexibility against the need to improve now, especially with uncertainty hanging over what those future picks might actually become. The ceiling on this roster is becoming clearer, and so is the pressure to decide whether patience is still the right bet. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Early Lineup Has One Big Bright Spot And One Real Concern
The Raptors 4-4 start has already offered a pretty clear snapshot of where this group stands in the early going, even with Kawhi Leonard sidelined by injury. Among the starters, Immanuel Quickley has been the most encouraging presence in terms of setting the table, while JaKobe Walter has given the lineup a boost with a career-best scoring stretch and Scottie Barnes has continued to look like the kind of all-around anchor Toronto needs.
The concern comes at the other end of the spectrum, where the early returns have been more uneven. RJ Barrett has found ways to score but has not yet solved the shooting issues that can stall the offense, and Jakob Poeltls start has been disappointing enough to stand out on a team still trying to settle into its identity. For a Raptors group that needs its starting five to pull in the same direction, the early balance between promise and problem is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]