The Raptors’ search for a real answer at center could eventually lead them to Wendell Carter Jr., especially if Orlando keeps sliding.
That possibility starts with what happened Thursday night. With only two games on the NBA schedule, the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns were the main event, and Phoenix handled business in a 117-104 win. Devin Booker was the story early, piling up 23 points in the first half before the Suns pulled away after the break.
For Toronto, the bigger takeaway was Carter Jr.’s night. He kept his strong start rolling with 27 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 83 percent from the field. He was active everywhere - on the glass, around the rim, and even out on the perimeter - and that kind of all-around impact is exactly why he stands out as a possible fit for the Raptors.
If Orlando’s season keeps going in the wrong direction, the Magic may have to make a choice about how they want to build around Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner and reshape the rest of the roster accordingly. In that scenario, Carter Jr. looks like the kind of player they could move if they decide to cash in on his value.
And that value is real right now. Orlando is off to a 2-6 start, but Carter Jr. has been one of the few steady pieces, averaging 11.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 65.6 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three.
He also has the best net rating among Magic starters this season. It’s a small sample, but it still matters, and at 27, he may be playing some of the best basketball of his career.
From Toronto’s side, the appeal is obvious. Carter Jr. would bring more stability to a frontcourt that already includes Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles, and he’d give the Raptors a center with real versatility.
He can protect the rim, finish plays, space the floor a bit, and hold his own on the perimeter. That blend is hard to find, and it would make him a clear upgrade.
There’s also the contract angle. Carter Jr. is at $18 million, and he’d come with more than just a short-term fix. He’s under contract for next season and has a team option for 2028-29, which makes him much more than a rental.
The problem is getting from interest to reality. Because Toronto is a near first-apron team and Orlando is a first-apron team, a straight-up deal is close to impossible. Another team would likely need to be involved, or the Magic would have to make other moves first to get out from under that restriction and take back the salary Toronto could send.
That’s a lot of moving parts for a player some may still view as a mid-tier center. But Carter Jr. has been producing like someone who could change the feel of a frontcourt, and he’s already shown he can hold up in the playoffs over Orlando’s last two postseason runs.
Right now, a deal may be out of reach. But if the Magic keep trending the wrong way and the financial pieces can be lined up, Carter Jr. is the kind of center the Raptors should be ready to chase.
In Other News...
Raptors Center Problem Could Put Nate Bittle In The Spotlight
Torontos center depth has become a real talking point, and Nate Bittle has surfaced as one of the more interesting names tied to it. Basketball analyst Sam Vecenie pointed to the two-way big man as a possible answer, which is notable given how much the Raptors have been looking for help in the middle. Bittles Summer League showing gave the idea some traction, with promising production across the board and enough rim protection to make him stand out.
The longer-term question is availability, because there is still no clear timetable for his return to play. That leaves the Raptors in a familiar holding pattern, weighing upside against uncertainty while trying to map out who can actually fill minutes at center. Bittles college background and his Summer League flashes make him worth watching, but for now the path from intriguing prospect to real rotation option remains unfinished. [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 🡒]