Toronto Raptors Could Secure Center of the Future in 2025 NBA Draft

However, if there is one position that feels a little more obvious than the rest as an area of concern for the Raptors, it would undoubtedly be the center spot.

That is not a reflection of who Poeltl is as a player. The Raptors starting center is certainly an above average starter in the NBA and fits pretty well with the team. The obvious reason why the spot down low would be the primary need for Toronto comes down to Poeltl's age.

The Austrian big man is already 29 years old, and set to hit 30 in October. That makes him a touch older than some of the other major pieces in the Raptors' young core.

Depending on how the lottery balls bounce, Toronto should have the opportunity to draft a successor for the position. Duke Blue Devils big man Khaman Maluach would offer an opportunity within the top 10 picks of the 2025 NBA Draft for the Raptors to address the future of the center spot.

Maluach has averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks during 20.3 minutes per game, while shooting a resounding 71.8 percent from the field. Duke has posted a staggering 147.8 offensive rating per 100 possessions with the South Sudanese center on the court.

Maluach is still fairly raw as a player and will need time with the Raptors development team to really tap into his full potential. However, the Duke prospect has been consistently ranked as the top center in the 2025 NBA Draft all year. 

Drafting Maluach and giving him a couple of years to develop behind Poeltl could be the best avenue to securing the future of the five spot in Toronto.