The Toronto Raptors may be generating excitement with the possibility of adding Kawhi Leonard, but one major concern continues to hover over the franchise ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season—and it has nothing to do with a blockbuster trade.
Instead, it centers on veteran center Jakob Poeltl.
While much of the attention has focused on Toronto’s ambitious plans and the potential return of one of the greatest players in franchise history, the Raptors’ biggest challenge could ultimately come from a position where they have very little margin for error.
Poeltl enters the new campaign under enormous pressure.
If Toronto hopes to build on last season’s encouraging playoff run, the Austrian big man must produce far more than he showed during an injury-disrupted 2025-26 campaign. Otherwise, the Raptors could find themselves facing a serious roster problem before the season reaches its halfway point.
The issue isn’t simply Poeltl’s individual performances.
It’s the lack of proven depth behind him.
Toronto’s frontcourt options remain extremely thin. Young forward Collin Murray-Boyles continues to impress with his versatility, but standing at 6-foot-7, he isn’t a traditional NBA center and is still developing his game. Meanwhile, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Trey Jamison and Nate Bittle have yet to establish themselves as reliable rotation players capable of handling consistent NBA minutes.
That leaves Poeltl carrying an enormous workload.
Should injuries strike again or his performances continue to decline, the Raptors would have very few dependable alternatives.
Head coach Darko Rajaković could be forced into using smaller lineups far more often than planned, asking Scottie Barnes, Kyle Anderson and Murray-Boyles to battle against much bigger frontcourts across the Eastern Conference.
That approach might work occasionally.
Over the course of an 82-game season, however, it presents obvious risks.
The Raptors are fully aware of what’s at stake.
If the widely discussed Kawhi Leonard deal is completed, Toronto’s expectations will rise dramatically overnight. The franchise would no longer be focused purely on development but on competing immediately for another deep postseason run.
That reality makes Poeltl’s role even more important.
The veteran center doesn’t need to become an All-Star, but he must rediscover the consistent level of basketball he displayed during previous seasons with the Raptors.
Unfortunately, last year painted a worrying picture.
Poeltl averaged just 10.7 points, seven rebounds, two assists and less than one block per game—his lowest statistical output in several years. More concerning was his availability, appearing in only 46 regular-season games before struggling throughout much of Toronto’s playoff series.
Those performances inevitably raised questions about whether injuries have permanently affected his game or whether last season was simply an unfortunate setback.
Toronto desperately hopes it’s the latter.
A healthy and productive Poeltl would instantly stabilize one of the team’s biggest weaknesses.
His interior defense, rebounding and screen-setting remain valuable assets when operating at full capacity. If he returns closer to the form he displayed during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, many of the concerns surrounding the Raptors’ lack of center depth would become far less significant.
There is also another important factor.
Poeltl’s contract.
The veteran is scheduled to earn nearly $19.5 million this season before seeing that figure rise to approximately $27.3 million the following year.
Those numbers place considerable financial pressure on both the player and the organization.
If Poeltl delivers a bounce-back campaign, Toronto could not only benefit on the court but also improve his trade value considerably. Even if the Raptors eventually pursue another starting center, a productive season would make future negotiations far easier than trying to move a declining player on a significant contract.
On the other hand, another disappointing year could leave the franchise in a difficult position.
Finding a trade partner willing to absorb his salary would become increasingly challenging, potentially forcing Toronto to attach valuable draft assets simply to complete a deal.
That’s a scenario the Raptors would much rather avoid.
With Scottie Barnes continuing to develop into the face of the franchise and the possibility of Kawhi Leonard returning to accelerate the team’s championship ambitions, every roster decision carries greater importance than ever before.
Toronto’s championship hopes won’t depend solely on one player.
But Jakob Poeltl’s health, consistency and ability to rebound from a difficult season may ultimately determine whether the Raptors become genuine contenders—or spend another year wondering what might have been.
For a player carrying one of the biggest contracts on the roster, few Raptors enter the new season with more pressure or more to prove than Jakob Poeltl.
