The Toronto Raptors have signaled an astonishing show of faith in undrafted 7-foot center Nate Bittle, rewarding the Oregon product with a coveted two-way NBA contract despite him not playing a single minute of preseason action due to a foot injury.
Following their preseason finale against the Detroit Pistons—where Toronto’s depth pieces pushed Detroit’s starters to the wire in a narrow four-point loss—head coach Darko Rajaković and team president Masai Ujiri trimmed the roster.
While camp invitees Tyson Degenhart, Jamarion Sharp, Nimari Burnett, Jalen Celestine, and Tyreke Key were all waived, Bittle’s Exhibit 10 deal was converted into a full two-way roster slot.
For Bittle, who explicitly targeted Toronto after the NBA draft as the ideal franchise to earn a professional spot, the contract represents a massive personal victory and a high-reward bet by the Raptors’ front office.
Critical Frontcourt Insurance Behind Jakob Poeltl
While two-way players split time between the main NBA roster and the G League’s Raptors 905, Bittle’s promotion addresses Toronto’s most glaring positional weakness: genuine size and interior depth.
Starting center Jakob Poeltl battled recurring back issues throughout the previous campaign and remains a potential durability concern over an 82-game season.
While backup big man Trayce Jackson-Davis showed flashes during the preseason, he has yet to establish himself as a rock-solid regular-season contributor.
Converting Bittle gives Toronto crucial 7-foot insurance in case Poeltl suffers another setback:
- Interior Size: Bittle is one of only two players over seven feet on Toronto’s entire roster.
- College Efficiency: Converted 54.8% of his two-point attempts during his final season at Oregon while averaging 16.8 points and 6.9 rebounds.
- Summer League Flash: Showcased elite glass-cleaning and rim-protection instincts during summer play in Las Vegas.
The Stretch-Five Potential Toronto Sorely Needs
Beyond his size, Bittle represents an intriguing long-term development project because of his potential as a stretch-five floor spacer.
Toronto’s frontline currently suffers from a severe lack of perimeter shooting. Poeltl and Jackson-Davis are non-shooters outside the paint, while star forward Scottie Barnes remains a career 30% shooter from deep.
In contrast, Bittle proved to be a highly willing perimeter shooter in college, attempting 4.5 three-pointers per game in his senior year.
If Toronto’s coaching staff can refine his jumper, Bittle could evolve into the versatile, stretch-center archetype that Rajaković’s high-tempo offense craves.
With Bittle and guard Malachi Smith locking up two-way positions, the Raptors enter Wednesday’s opening night against the Chicago Bulls with a flexible, frontcourt-protected roster ready for the Eastern Conference grind.
