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NBA Summer League action gets underway for the Toronto Raptors on Friday night in Las Vegas.
Their roster will feature a fresh face, the 7-foot center Nate Bittle.
The Raptors announced the signing of Bittle to an Exhibit 10 contract on Friday morning.
Bittle is noticeable first for his size -- he's listed at 7-feet tall and 250 pounds.
He played his entire college career for the Oregon Ducks, and he was a standout player in his final season.
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In 2025-26, Bittle put up 16.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 blocks per game.
Bittle shot 46.5% from the floor and had 23 games with double-digit scoring, as well as reaching 20-plus points on eight occasions.
The big fella is originally from Oregon, too, so he's now a long way from home in pursuing a spot with the Raptors.
A five-year college career doesn't always suggest that someone will be successful in the NBA, but Bittle's attributes give him a chance.
You can't teach height, for one, and Bittle's shot blocking numbers throughout his college career suggest a player who has the right instincts to protect the rim.
He also has solid skill on the inside -- and he's not a terrible 3-point shooter, at 32.8% in his college career as he increased his volume from beyond the arc each season.
Sometimes, a heavy dose of college experience can help, too. Bittle will be battle-tested and have plenty of knowledge of what to do in certain situations.
Maybe he never makes an impact for the Raptors, but he's an intriguing enough player to keep an eye on as the summer progresses.
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