The Raptors may not be in position to shop for a major center upgrade, but that doesn’t mean Jakob Poeltl is out of the picture as a possible asset.
If the Kawhi Leonard trade eventually gets done, Toronto’s big additions would be Leonard, Kyle Anderson, and first-round pick Allen Graves. Beyond that, there may be room for a few low-cost signings of younger players, but not enough financial flexibility to chase an impact center. That leaves the Raptors looking at a familiar setup: Poeltl starting, Collin Murray-Boyles backing him up, and Scottie Barnes and Allen Graves filling in minutes if needed, unless another trade changes the picture.
That isn’t an ideal center rotation. But it does give Poeltl a chance to answer a rough season and maybe restore some of the value that has slipped since Toronto handed him that large extension.
The path back is pretty clear. If Poeltl can get back to the level he showed in earlier Raptors seasons, the team might have a better chance to explore trade options for an upgrade.
At 30, and with back injuries being what they are, he’s not the kind of player teams are likely to fight over at the deadline or even in the offseason. Still, if he can rebound enough, a team looking for a veteran big might be willing to take on his contract without forcing Toronto to attach a huge draft sweetener.
Last season was a step back across the board for Poeltl.
He played only 46 games, continuing a stretch in which he hasn’t exactly been a fixture in the lineup since returning to Toronto in 2022-23. He appeared in 50 games in 2023-24 and 57 the following season, but the most recent campaign was his lightest workload and his least productive in years.
Poeltl averaged 10.7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 0.7 blocks in 25 minutes a night. That scoring mark was his lowest since 2020-21, his rebounding average was his lowest since 2019-20, and his block rate dipped to its lowest point since 2018-19.
Toronto doesn’t need Poeltl to be a featured scorer. With Scottie Barnes, hopefully Kawhi Leonard, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley around him, the bigger asks are simpler and more important: rebound, screen, and protect the rim. If he can do those things again, the Raptors at least give themselves a chance to keep the center situation from becoming a dead end.
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Jakob Poeltl sits at the center of that larger picture, since Toronto has been exploring ways to move off his contract and create more flexibility. The idea of Trent as a possible target has plenty of appeal for fans who remember what he can bring, especially if the Bucks decide to keep listening on veterans while they sort through their own direction. For now, it remains speculative, but it is the kind of rumor that feels rooted enough in the Raptors roster needs to linger. [Read more 🡒]