Jakob Poeltl gave the Raptors something they’ve been waiting to see again on Saturday night: a frontcourt presence that looked alive, active, and a whole lot more like himself.
Toronto bounced back from its opening loss in the NBA Canada Series preseason slate by beating the Clippers 114-106, and Poeltl was one of the clearest bright spots in the win. In a little more than 21 minutes, he finished with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting, four rebounds, one assist and two steals.
The box score was fine. The way he played was what stood out.
He looked lighter on his feet, more willing to mix it up, and far sharper on his cuts. That part mattered most.
On one play, Scottie Barnes slipped him the ball inside after a Clippers defensive breakdown left Poeltl alone for a simple layup. Later, RJ Barrett - still turning heads this preseason - found Kyle Anderson, who quickly used that veteran feel to set Poeltl up for a clean cutting dunk.
For a player who has been such a debated piece of the roster, it was the kind of showing that can shift the conversation, even if only for a night. The Raptors have spent plenty of time wondering whether Poeltl still belongs in the starting center picture. Saturday offered a reminder of why the team has valued him in the first place.
That matters even more with Collin Murray-Boyles continuing to make a strong case for minutes and maybe more. But the sense around the team, and what Coach Rajakovic said, is that Toronto wants to find a way to use Murray-Boyles and Poeltl together rather than forcing a choice between them.
If Poeltl can give Toronto something close to this version of himself with any regularity, it could take pressure off Murray-Boyles and keep the rookie from being asked to shoulder too much in the frontcourt. That would be no small thing for a team trying to protect him from getting worn down or pushed into a heavier injury burden.
Of course, the real test comes later. Preseason optimism only travels so far once the games get tougher, the bodies get bigger, and the possessions get nastier. Poeltl has flashed before, too - including that late-February game against the Spurs during a downturn 2025-26 season - only for the momentum to fade when it mattered most in the playoffs.
Still, this was enough to wonder whether there’s more in the tank. If he really is past the bad back and feeling good again, Poeltl should be able to get back to doing the dirty work that made him such a useful piece in the first place: battling on the boards, embracing contact, and making life harder for anyone trying to bully Toronto inside.
In Other News...
Raptors Just Added A Giant With A Real Shot To Stick
Toronto is taking a fresh look at Jamarion Sharp, the free agent center set to join the Raptors and compete for a two-way contract. The move adds another big body to a preseason group that is already at 21 players, so the front office will have to clear a spot before Sharp can officially settle in with the club.
Sharps path has been a winding one, even by the standards of a player chasing an NBA foothold. He previously landed a two-way deal with the Clippers before getting waived, then spent most of his time in the G League, where his defensive work earned notice and kept him on the radar of teams looking for size and rim protection. [Read more 🡒]
RJ Barretts Early Raptors Role Could Create A Real Offensive Problem
With Kawhi Leonard sidelined for Torontos first two preseason games, RJ Barrett has been asked to do a lot more of the organizing and creation than he likely will once the games count. The expanded on-ball responsibilities mirror the version of Barrett the Raptors leaned on in the playoffs, where he was more than just a finisher and had to help drive the offense. It has given Toronto a useful look at how Barrett handles added control, but it also highlights how different this group can look when the roster is whole.
Barretts current role is built around a heavy share of the action, and that can be a tricky thing to unwind when Leonard returns and reclaims the top offensive spot. If Barrett has gotten used to initiating so much of what Toronto does, the adjustment back to a more complementary role could take some time and affect early-season rhythm. The Raptors need Barrett to stay productive, but they also need the offense to settle into a pecking order that works once the lineup is at full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons May Not Be Done After Locking In Cade Cunninghams Core
Detroits recent run of long-term planning has already changed the shape of its future, with Ausar Thompson secured on a five-year deal and Jalen Duren on a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed extension. For a team trying to build around Cade Cunningham, those moves suggest the Pistons are not just collecting young talent, they are trying to lock in the kind of core that can grow together and stay together.
For the Raptors, the Detroit conversation matters because RJ Barretts name has surfaced in outside trade chatter, even if nothing has been confirmed by either team. A third-party proposal has circulated that would send Barrett to Detroit, but until something more concrete develops, it remains part of the background noise around a Pistons roster that already looks increasingly committed to its next phase. [Read more 🡒]