Toronto Raptors: Cavaliers present ideal centre trade targets

The Toronto Raptors are heating up, but the five is still proving to be a difficult position to fill.

Currently situated on the periphery of the playoff picture, the Raptors have more than a couple of holes in their lineup that need to be filled. None is more glaring than at centre. From the dismissal of Alex Len to the seemingly ritualistic starting of Aron Baynes to the learning curve of Chris Boucher, Toronto needs an answer at the five if they look to make another playoff run.

Fortunately, a team on the other side of Lake Erie might be able to help. When the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Jarrett Allen as part of the deal that sent James Harden to Brooklyn, they added an ascendant centre to a group that already boasted two former all-stars at that position.

Simply put, the Cavs have three top tier centres. The Raptors have, at best, 0.75 (Boucher is getting there, but his strong performance thus far is still a small sample size for a 28-year-old). Here’s the case for Toronto acquiring each of Cleveland’s fives, in order from best to worst fit.