The Toronto Raptors are sitting in a pretty solid spot right now - third in the Eastern Conference with a 17-11 record and riding a two-game road win streak. That’s a nice bounce-back after a tough stretch that saw them bounced from the NBA Cup.
But as the calendar inches toward the trade deadline, the conversation around this team is starting to shift. The Raptors are good - but are they good enough?
And more importantly, can they stay healthy enough to make a real push?
That second question brings us to the Raptors’ most pressing issue: Jakob Poeltl.
On paper, Poeltl is exactly what this team needs - a true seven-footer who can anchor the paint, set solid screens, and provide rim protection. But the reality has been far more complicated.
A lingering back injury has kept him in and out of the lineup, and even when he’s suited up, he hasn’t looked right. There’s a stiffness to his movement, a hesitation that wasn’t there before, and the Raptors’ cautious approach to his minutes only raises more red flags.
Take Thursday night in Milwaukee. Poeltl was listed as questionable heading into the game, despite the Raptors having had ample rest over the previous 10 days.
That kind of extended downtime should’ve been enough to get him back on the floor - but he was ruled out again. That’s not the kind of trend you want to see from your starting center, especially as the games start to matter more.
So now the Raptors are staring down a tough situation. They need depth at the five, and they need it soon.
Even with a healthy Poeltl, Toronto could use another big man to spell him - someone who can eat minutes, protect the rim, and keep the offense flowing. But with Poeltl’s health in question, the front office has to consider something bigger: do they need to replace him entirely?
There are a few ways this could go. Poeltl could be part of a trade package - his size and skill set still hold value, especially for teams looking for a traditional big.
But that hinges on one major factor: can he pass a physical? If his back issue is as serious as it looks, that could scare off potential suitors.
And if that’s the case, Toronto might have to sweeten the pot with additional assets just to move his contract.
That’s not an ideal position to be in.
On the flip side, if Poeltl is close to 100%, then the Raptors can afford to shop for a more affordable backup option - someone who can hold down the fort when Poeltl sits and give them flexibility in the frontcourt. But every game he misses makes that scenario feel a little less likely.
What makes this even trickier is how much of an impact Poeltl has on the Raptors’ guard play. Immanuel Quickley, for example, looks like a different player when Poeltl is on the floor.
The spacing, the screening, the pick-and-roll chemistry - it all clicks better with Poeltl in the lineup. Without him, the offense tends to stall, and the guards have to work a lot harder to create.
Still, there are bright spots. Scottie Barnes is playing at an All-Star level and doing a bit of everything to keep this team afloat.
Brandon Ingram is right there with him, maybe not quite a lock for the All-Star Game, but certainly making a strong case. Their performances have been the engine behind recent wins over Miami and Milwaukee - the latter coming without Giannis in the Bucks' lineup, which certainly helped.
But relying too heavily on Barnes and Ingram to carry the load isn’t a sustainable plan. If the Raptors want to stay in the top tier of the East - and maybe even make a run in the playoffs - they’re going to need more help in the frontcourt. And they’re going to need some clarity on Poeltl’s status sooner rather than later.
Historically, Toronto has been a team that waits out the market, letting other dominoes fall before making their move - unless there’s a big swing to be made. Last season, they moved early, shipping out Pascal Siakam and O.G.
Anunoby well before the deadline. Whether they take that same aggressive approach this time around remains to be seen.
But one thing’s for sure: the Raptors are at a crossroads. If Poeltl’s back holds up, they can fine-tune the roster and stay the course. If it doesn’t, they may need to make a much bigger move - and fast.