The Toronto Raptors still have some work to do in addressing their center position.
As the Toronto Raptors look to make a push back to contention the NBA Eastern Conference, they have yet to address the glaring weakness on their roster that is their center position.
While the Raptors took a step in the right direction by signing former Oregon Duck Nate Bittle to an Exhibit 10 contract per Sportsnet's Blake Murphy, the 7-footer is still an unproven quantity on a real NBA court after averaging 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game during Summer League play.
In the meantime, Toronto will have to continue relying on Jakob Poeltl to handle the bulk of the workload during the upcoming 2026-27 season unless general manager Bobby Webster finds a younger, NBA-ready option who can complement the 30-year-old veteran.
With that, I think the Raptors should check in on Day'Ron Sharpe who just signed a two-year, $20 million contract to stay with the Brooklyn Nets following this past season, according to ESPN.
The 6'10'' center averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 62 games of playing time. Even though Sharpe's 3-point shooting is not his greatest strength, he would shoot 60.1% from the field and convert on 67.8% of attempts at the free throw line.
Moreover, Sharpe will turn 25 in November and could provide great value at $10 million per year due to his youth, brute physicality and solid rebounding.
His track record also goes back to the previous two seasons in which he averaged 6.8 and 7.9 points per game. Furthermore, he averaged 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game during his lone season with North Carolina.
That season would lead to his 29th overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns who would end up trading his rights to Brooklyn in exchange for Landry Shamet.
As for Poeltl, he averaged 10.7 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game while going 217-for-310 from the field and shooting 60.2% at the charity stripe. However, he won't be getting any younger given that he will be 31 five days before the start of the season.
With the Nets still looking for additional draft picks to aid their rebuild, Sharpe could be up for grabs at the right price near the trade deadline and a center-needy team like the Raptors would be wise to bite.
Although Poeltl can still hold the fort, he can't do it all himself and Sharpe may just be the guy who can give him a breather during a full 82-game season.
