"To be frank, Poeltl's play before he went down wasn't anything extraordinary, whether that's mostly due to injury issues or the inevitable decline that comes with age. But still, it's undoubtedly worth having a true center available for the Raptors than being forced to play guys out of their ideal position. I mean, just ask Scottie Barnes - he's echoed this sentiment before."
"I don't usually like playing the negative Nancy, but you've got to consider the combustible elements in the Jakob Poeltl situation. He's dealing with a bad back that doesn't seem to be improving, he's getting up there in age, and on top of that, his price tag just got more expensive after Toronto shelled out that massive extension over the summer."
Jakob Poeltl has been out since December 21 with a lingering back problem and remains without a firm return timeline despite being cleared for contact in early January. His performance before the injury was underwhelming, possibly due to injury or age-related decline, yet a true center would benefit the Raptors more than playing players out of position. Poeltl carries a large contract after a summer extension, complicating roster decisions and tradeability. Toronto has stayed competitive with contributions from Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Scottie Barnes. The team has been linked to potential frontcourt trades for stars such as Domantas Sabonis, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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