For a team that may have shocked a lot of people with the success they’ve had this season, it might be easy to overlook some of the flaws with the Toronto Raptors. However, the organization does not have a carefree mentality about its success. Instead, they want to improve in the one area they’re clearly lacking.
As a result, they have been trying to find the right formula for their big man rotation. But until a major trade is made, their only realistic option is free agency. After adding another player to the roster, head coach Darko Rajaković is convinced that they may already have a solution at hand.
Darko Rajaković Believes Raptors Center Woes Could be Fixed
A sixth overall pick in 2018 for the Orlando Magic, Mo Bamba had incredibly high expectations coming into the league. A shot-blocking sniper from distance, there was hope that he could emerge as a true unicorn with refinement.
However, he was never able to capture that level of success in the pros. Instead, he bounced around from team to team, providing contributions almost exclusively as a backup. After seven seasons, though, it seemed like the story had been written for him.
As a result, he spent the first few months of the 2025-26 NBA season with the South Bay Lakers squad. However, with Toronto needing more depth behind a Jakob Poeltl who has regressed, they turned to Bamba for answers, signing him to a one-year, $1,859,176 contract.
Rather than a minor tryout, though, Rajaković believes there is genuine belief within the locker room and from the head coach himself that Bamba could solve a lot of their problems and showcase the potential that made him a former sixth overall pick.
“I think this is a good opportunity for him to prove to everybody that he belongs in this league. We’re going to have a very clear plan for him. We’re going to give him an opportunity to show what he can do, and hopefully it works for both sides.”
At 20-14, the team has already been far better than almost anyone anticipated. That has come down to Scottie Barnes emerging as a legitimate DPOY candidate. At the same time, a starting lineup featuring Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram has given them a smooth, free-flowing offense.
The one true weakness on the roster is the big man rotation. It would be hard to imagine that Bamba can change that, given his track record. But with the belief that Rajaković is placing in him, this might finally be the year that he puts it all together.