Central Point’s Nate Bittle reaches training camp deal with Raptors
Published 5:45 am Friday, June 26, 2026
Central Point native Nate Bittle reached an agreement with the Toronto Raptors on an Exhibit 10 contract Thursday, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
The 7-foot, 250-pound Bittle went unclaimed Tuesday and Wednesday in the 2026 NBA Draft despite a notable career at center for the Oregon Ducks that saw him register as one of five finalists for the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar center of the year award and act as a cornerstone in recent campaigns.
This past season, Bittle battled injury but averaged 16.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 blocks. He became the 41st Oregon player to reach the 1,000-point plateau for his career, and his 176 career blocks rank as third-most in Ducks history.
It was the second straight season that the former Crater High standout, who played his senior year at Prolific Prep, led the team in scoring average and blocks.
Bittle, 23, finished the 2025 season as one of four players in the country with at least 400 points, 200 rebounds and 65 blocks this season, and was the only one of the four to make at least 25 3-pointers.
He led the Ducks with 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in 2025 and, after initially declaring for the NBA Draft last year, Bittle chose to utilize an extra year of college eligibility granted to him after receiving a medical redshirt following a shortened 2023-24 campaign.
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An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed training camp deal that pays the league minimum salary and creates an opportunity to make Toronto’s 2026-27 opening day roster on a standard contract or potentially join their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, on a two-way contract.
Consideration by the Raptors is an understandable one considering Bittle’s 7-6 wingspan and shot-altering ability, as well as the ability to stretch the floor from 3-point range. It falls in line with another former Oregon player, Chris Boucher, who saw his greatest NBA success with the Raptors from 2018-25 as a lanky power forward.
Former South Medford High standout E.J. Singler also played for Raptors 905 from 2016-17.
The Raptors currently have two of the maximum three players signed to a two-way deal. Bittle will get his first opportunity in a Toronto uniform at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which runs July 9-19.
Reach sports editor Kris Henry at kris.henry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035