The Toronto Raptors have a lot to be proud of these days. They are currently (as of Friday, Dec. 19) 3rd in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 17-11, and have also won their last two road games after a hard stretch of losses that ended in their NBA Cup elimination. Yet, as we head into trade season, the focus now shifts to what this team can do to improve before the deadline.
The Raptors have one glaring problem as we approach the new year: Jakob Poeltl. While his potential on paper makes this team exponentially better, the glaring problem is his ongoing back injury. When he’s out on the floor, he looks stiff and disjointed, and the amount of time the Raptors have been keeping him off the floor draws more concern about the severity of his injury.
Ahead of the Raptors’ game on Thursday night in Milwaukee, Poeltl was questionable to play. Many online speculated that his questionable status may have been to build some precedent before they ultimately hold him during one of the Raptors’ upcoming back-to-back games for rest and injury management. Then, he was confirmed out of the game, after the Raptors had barely played in the past 10 days, giving him a lot of time for rest and recovery in between. The fact that he was still held out because of this injury was not a good sign.
One of the team’s biggest needs as we head into trade season is depth at the centre position. Even with Poeltl, they need a bit of backup, another 7-footer, especially with Poeltl injured. There is also the option to include Poeltl in a deal, allowing the Raptors to make a bigger swing at a big target. In recent reports from Jask Fischer, he has determined players like Davis, Sabonis, and Gafford as potential targets for Toronto. Poeltl may need to be a factor/piece in these talks.
Yet, if the back injury really is as bad as it seems, the question shifts from ‘do we trade Poeltl?’ to ‘does Poeltl even pass the physical needed for the trade to go through?’ or ‘do teams risk taking on his contract with this injury problem?’
This ends up posing a bigger problem for Toronto. If Poeltl is 100% healthy, then you can easily swing for a lower-costing backup option for him without having to give up too much. If he isn’t healthy, then the focus needs to switch to replacing him — but how can you deal with his contract if he’s that hurt? Do you have to give up other assets in order to make it work and then just live with his current deal?
Regardless, it’s becoming more of a problem with each passing day. The Raptors were lucky to edge out wins against Miami and Milwaukee — the latter being helped along by Giannis’s absence from the lineup — mostly due to Scottie Barnes’s efforts. Their guard play is suffering with Poeltl out, especially since the difference in Immanuel Quickley’s efforts is noticeable with and without Poeltl on the floor.
The good news for the Raptors is that Barnes and Brandon Ingram are both playing at an All-Star level. Barnes is almost guaranteed a spot on the team, with Ingram being a little less certain but still deserving. This is helping the Raptors maintain their positioning in the standings, but it isn’t what they should 100% be relying on.
The Raptors usually like to wait until closer to the deadline to make moves, letting the marbles fall from other teams first, unless they have a big move to make. In the 2023-24 season, the Raptors were big movers, dealing both Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby pretty early by deadline standards. Unless the Raptors are going to be a part of any blockbuster early trades, I wouldn’t expect much to go on until after the New Year.