The Toronto Raptors have been in the market for a big man to back up Jakob Poeltl for several seasons now. And last year, it looked like they might have an answer in the form of undrafted free agent Colin Castleton. Originally a two-way signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, Castleton spent time on 10-day contracts with the Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers in 2024-25.
The Raptors, though, were the only team to give Castleton the maximum of two 10-day deals and the only team to give Castleton real run. He started four games at center for Toronto last season, averaging 7.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in his 11 appearances with the team. They signed him to a non-guaranteed contract at the end of the season.
And it appears the Raptors will not be moving forward with Castleton, as it was reported on Monday that he is being waived, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports:
The Raptors have waived Colin Castleton, who is coming off a rough Summer League showing in Vegas and was on a non-guaranteed deal.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 28, 2025
As Lewenberg states, it was likely Castleton’s rocky showing at Las Vegas Summer League that led to this decision. The Raptors had 13 guaranteed contracts and three non-guaranteed deals, meaning they needed to waive one of those three players, and opted for Castleton over A.J. Lawson or Jamison Battle.
With Battle being a center and the team signing Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency, back up center seemed to no longer be a position of need for Toronto unless Castleton really showed out at Summer League.
The Raptors now appear relatively set for the start of the 2025-26 season, while Castleton begins the search for his new home in the NBA.
Raptors announce preseason schedule
The Raptors will be holding training camp in Alberta for the first time in franchise history, setting up shop at the University of Calgary’s Jack Simpson Gym from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
Media Day will then take place in Toronto on Sept. 29 before the team heads to the west coast.
After that the Raptors will begin their six-game preseason schedule against the Denver Nuggets in a Canada Series matchup on Oct. 6 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. This will be the Raptors 7th preseason game in Vancouver.
From there the Raptors will head to Sacramento to take on the Kings on Oct. 8 before they return to Scotiabank Arena for games against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 10 and Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 17. Toronto will end their preseason schedule on the road against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 12 and the Celtics on Oct. 15.
