Toronto Raptors: 4 priorities for the team this offseason

Find a solution for the centre position

Mobley would be a great solution, but with his star rising on league draft boards, the Raptors would need an extremely lucky ping pong ball drop to see him come to Toronto.

We predicted the signing of Khem Birch back in April, so a pat on the back for nailing that one. Birch fits right in with the Raptors, but projects as more of a bench rotation piece than the starting centre on a playoff team.

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The starting centre role on this team was supposed to be Aron Baynes’, however, his signing has been a massive flop. It’s highly unlikely that he returns to Toronto next year.

So, if not Birch or Baynes, then who should it be?

Kelly Olynyk seems like a mighty good option. The Toronto native (who moved to Kamloops, B.C. in grade seven) was dealt from Miami to Houston at the trade deadline as part of the Victor Oladipo deal. Once with the Rockets, Olynyk exploded, averaging 19.0 points and 8.4 rebounds over his 27 games in Houston.

Another option resides with Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen. Whereas Olynyk’s three-point shooting makes him a model modern-day centre, Allen is more of a throwback. Regardless, his rebounding skills are exactly what Toronto needs, as the Raptors were the third-worst team in the league on the boards.

No matter what happens, if the Raptors are back in Toronto next season, it should be a return to the playoffs for a team that bore the brunt of the pandemic in ’20-21.

What’s the main priority for the Raptors this offseason? Do you think they can get back to being a contender next season? Let us know in the comments below.