The Toronto Raptors have trimmed their preseason roster, waiving five players and converting center Nate Bittle to a two-way contract. The team announced the moves on Saturday as they prepare for their regular season opener this Wednesday at home against the Chicago Bulls.
This roster shuffle follows a busy preseason schedule. Their final tune-up was a 129-125 loss to the Detroit Pistons on October 16. the Raptors posted a 3-2 record in exhibition play, with wins over the New York Knicks (148-98 on Oct. 13) and LA Clippers (114-106 on Oct. 10), and losses to the Miami Heat and the recent one to Detroit.
The players waived were forward Tyson Degenhart, center Jamarion Sharp, and guards Nimari Burnett, Jalen Celestine, and Tyreke Key. These cuts are a standard part of the NBA's preseason process, where teams must reduce their rosters to the league-mandated limit before the first game. All five were competing for the final spots on the 15-man standard roster or two-way contract slots.
Their release allows the Raptors' front office, led by General Manager Bobby Webster, to solidify the group they believe gives them the best chance to start the season strong.
Nate Bittle, a seven-foot center from Central Point, Oregon, has secured one of the team's three valuable two-way contract slots. This deal allows him to split time between the NBA club and their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, while remaining under team control.
Bittle earned this opportunity with a strong collegiate career at Oregon. As a fifth-year senior last season, he averaged a team-high 16.8 points and 6.9 rebounds over 25 games. His size and scoring touch in the paint provide developmental depth behind the Raptors' established big men. Two-way players are essential for managing roster flexibility and injury contingencies throughout the grueling 82-game schedule.
All focus now shifts to the regular season. The Raptors tip off their 2026-27 campaign this Wednesday, October 21, hosting the Chicago Bulls at Scotiabank Arena. It's the first real test for this reshaped roster under head coach Darko Rajaković.
Integrating new faces and establishing rotation roles will be the immediate priority. The full slate of upcoming games is available on our schedule schedule.
With the roster now set, the real evaluation begins. The Raptors will look to carry the energy from their preseason wins into a positive start against a Bulls team also looking to make an early statement in the Eastern Conference.
