The Raptors’ need for center help is already clear, and now the 76ers look like another team ready to crowd the same market.
That matters because Philadelphia is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched teams in the East. The new-look roster includes Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ariel Hukporti, Labaron Philon Jr., Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James, a group that arrives with plenty of expectations. But for all that buzz, the Sixers still have obvious questions, especially when it comes to their center rotation.
Joel Embiid’s status and availability are going to be a major storyline, and the depth behind him is not exactly settled. Hukporti can handle some of that work, and so can younger options like Jabari Walker or Dominick Barlow, but neither feels like a true center. That leaves Philadelphia in the same kind of place plenty of teams find themselves: looking for insurance, looking for size, and looking for someone proven enough to survive the grind of a season.
That issue came up recently on the Third Apron Podcast, where Yossi Gozlan and Adam Aaronson talked through Philadelphia’s 2026 offseason and salary cap outlook. They brought up center options such as Yves Missi and Jaxson Hayes, and later shifted into the possibility of a Joel Embiid trade, with the Mavericks offering an intriguing package if the Sixers decide to move on from their star.
For Toronto, that’s the part worth watching.
The Raptors have their own center problem, and it’s been hanging around for a while. Jakob Poeltl remains the obvious anchor, but he’s aging and injury-riddled.
Collin Murray-Boyles can play the role, but he is not a true center and there are longevity concerns there too. Toronto did take a small swing by adding Trey Jemison III on a two-way deal, but that doesn’t close the gap.
Names like Jaxson Hayes and Yves Missi have already come up in Raptors discussions, and Missi in particular has been a name explored several times. Daniel Gafford is another possible fit that has been looked at recently. The bigger point is that Toronto could use a real backup big, and it may take giving up assets, paying a little more, or moving picks to get one.
That’s where Philadelphia becomes a problem. Outside of the Knicks, the Sixers may be the Raptors’ biggest team to watch in this race, especially if Toronto eventually gets serious about addressing the position. Right now, the front office does not seem especially urgent about fixing it, but the pressure points are there: the hazy Kawhi situation, limited finances, and roster space getting tighter.
None of that changes the basic truth. Toronto still needs center depth, and if the Raptors go shopping for it, the Sixers could be waiting in the same aisle.
In Other News...
3 Raptors Matchups Fans Will Circle As Soon As Schedule Drops
As the Raptors wait for the 2026-27 schedule to come out, a few dates already stand out as the ones fans will hunt for first. Matchups with the Clippers, Cavaliers and Knicks bring a little extra weight beyond the usual grind of an 82-game slate, and Torontos recent history gives each one its own layer of meaning.
The Clippers game naturally carries the most intrigue because of the unresolved Kawhi Leonard trade saga, which remains tied up in an investigation into salary cap circumvention. Cleveland brings back memories of the Raptors recent playoff battles, while New York is part of a trade story that still echoes for both franchises, making these the kind of nights that could feel bigger than the standings. [Read more 🡒]