The Toronto Raptors are finding themselves in a bind - and it's a bind of their own making. After handing out hefty extensions to Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl this past offseason, the early returns have been, well, mixed at best.
These moves were meant to stabilize the roster and provide a foundation for the future. Instead, they’ve raised more questions than answers.
Let’s start with Quickley. The Raptors locked him in on a five-year, $175 million deal as a restricted free agent, a number that turned heads across the league.
At the time, it felt aggressive - maybe too aggressive - and now it’s looking like a deal that reset the market in a way no one else was willing to follow. Other teams balked at matching that kind of money for a guard who, while promising, hadn’t yet proven himself as a consistent lead option.
Toronto, on the other hand, went all-in.
The issue isn’t that Quickley lacks talent. He’s a capable scorer and a willing passer.
But the Raptors are paying him like a star, and that comes with expectations - expectations he hasn’t consistently met. His shooting has been a rollercoaster.
After a rough October where he hit just 25% from deep, he bounced back in November, climbing to a strong 40.4% from three. But December has brought another dip, down to 33.3%.
That kind of inconsistency is hard to build around, especially when he’s not a natural shot-creator off the dribble. He can run an offense, sure, but he’s not exactly breaking defenders down and collapsing defenses night after night.
Then there’s Poeltl. Toronto doubled down on their big man, giving him a four-year, $104 million extension.
At the time, it was framed as a necessary move. The Raptors had struggled mightily without him on the floor, and with no other true center options, keeping Poeltl felt like a must.
But now, with his back issues flaring up again, the gamble is looking riskier by the day.
Poeltl’s presence is undeniably important when he’s healthy - he anchors the defense, provides rebounding, sets solid screens. But that’s the catch: when he’s healthy.
The Raptors have tried to manage his minutes and limit his load on back-to-backs, but the nagging injuries are still a problem. And when he’s not right, the entire frontcourt feels exposed.
Toronto is reportedly searching for backup help at center, which says a lot about their confidence in Poeltl’s availability moving forward - and even more about the lack of depth behind him.
The broader issue here is the financial commitment. Between Quickley and Poeltl, the Raptors have tied up a significant chunk of their cap space in two players who, while talented, bring a high degree of volatility.
When they’re both clicking, Toronto can look like a solid, competitive team - as we saw during a strong November stretch. But when either one struggles, things can unravel fast.
And when both are off? It’s a tough watch.
This isn’t to say the Raptors are doomed. But they’ve made their bed, and now they have to lie in it.
The front office took big swings with these extensions, betting on internal growth and continuity. So far, that bet hasn’t paid off the way they hoped.
There’s still time, but the margin for error is shrinking.
Toronto’s next steps will be telling. Whether they look to shed salary, seek trade options, or simply ride it out and hope for better health and consistency, one thing is clear: the Raptors are locked into this core. And with that comes both potential and peril.