"The Toronto Raptors have built a good team that is on track to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. If they ultimately fall short, it will probably be because they didn't get enough from Jakob Poeltl -- a player they just committed $104 million to this summer in what looks like a grave mistake. The Raptors came into the season with a roster that was counting on a plethora of good players to raise the floor of the team and move them up the standings."
"While the Raptors won't be playing on Christmas Day, they do sit at fourth in the East with an 18-13 record, better than the Cleveland Cavaliers, who did get the preseason nod to play on the holiday. They have an average offense and the league's 4th-best defense, again built on the principle of every position having a good option and no glaring defensive weak points."
"Such an extension seemed like a massive mistake the moment it was announced. Poeltl is the epitome of an average center, a good defender and a decent scorer who doesn't bring game-changing impact in any way and whose secondary skills are all overrated. He is the kind of player a team looks to upgrade on when it's time to take the next step."
The Raptors built a balanced roster relying on many good players rather than a single star, with Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes leading and a playable bench. The team sits fourth in the Eastern Conference at 18-13 with an average offense and the league's fourth-best defense. The defensive anchor is Jakob Poeltl, who received a four-year, $104 million extension this summer. Poeltl is described as an average center: a strong defender and adequate scorer whose secondary skills are overrated and who lacks game-changing impact. Locking him up long-term could limit the team's ability to upgrade at center and take the next step.
Read at Raptors Rapture
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