Toronto Raptors Reportedly Sign Talented Center

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Toronto Raptors will sign Branden Carlson.

Jan 21, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (right) dunks against Washington Huskies forward Keion Brooks (left) in the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports / Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Branden Carlson is coming off an excellent season of college basketball for Utah.

He finished the year with averages of 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest while shooting 50.1% from the field and 37.9% from the three-point range in 36 games.

On Thursday, Carlson did not get selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.

However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Toronto Raptors will sign him to a two-way deal.

Via Wojnarowski: "Utah Utes center Branden Carlson has agreed on a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors, source tells ESPN."

Utah Utes center Branden Carlson has agreed on a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024

Carlson spent his entire five-year college career with Utah.

His career averages were 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest while shooting 51.3% from the field and 35.4% from the three-point range in 146 games.

Considering the Raptors didn't have to use a draft pick to select him, he could end up being a good value addition to the team.

BRANDEN CARLSON‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/fVf42bfloa

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 19, 2024

The Raptors are coming off a year where they were the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 25-57 record.

Last offseason, they lost former All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet in free agency, and the team also traded OG Anunoby (to the New York Knicks) during the regular season.

Apr 12, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic shares a laugh with guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the second half against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports / Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

The Raptors won the 2019 NBA Championship over Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, but they have missed the playoffs in each of the previous two years.

That said, they have a lot of talented (young) players such as RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes.