I've really tried not to be overly pessimistic or negative about how the Jakob Poeltl situation has played out for Toronto, but the honest and blunt truth is that it has been a major letdown. And it all stems from the Raptors' confusing decision to commit to a hefty extension and place a lot of faith in Poeltl as a key piece for the seasons ahead.
Last year, Poeltl dealt with a good chunk of missed time, but he was still able to put up a career year that included 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks in the 57 games he played. Seeing that sample, you can bet it was largely the catalyst that motivated the Toronto Raptors to extend the veteran, even though he was an aging 7-foot big man with already flaring injury concerns.
Unfortunately, it only took the following season to reveal why those who raised an eyebrow at the deal and the motivations behind it were right.
In the 2025-26 campaign, Poeltl was rendered to just 46 games played, and the general consensus of his efforts this year was that the vet left a ton to be desired. His numbers dropped to just 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks. Now, to give Jak some credit, I was pleasantly surprised to see glimpses of the Poeltl of old at various points during the season.
He impressed me a lot against the Spurs back in late February, put in a very commendable effort outplaying Jalen Duren in a mid-March win, and had a season-best outing against the Nuggets shortly afterward. But we also can't just focus on the small positives that I can list on one hand because the cold hard truth is that Poeltl's seemingly adept ability to be an interior force (some might even disagree here) in years past has severely regressed. There were many nights where he looked too slow-footed to match with opposing bigs, and the Raptors took the hit as a result.
Jakob Poeltl's impact on the Raptors this season was more pain than gain
In particular, the closing 2025-26 season stretch looked especially tough for Jak. He struggled against Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks not too long ago, and during the final five games, Poeltl averaged just 3.6 rebounds. That number simply won't cut it.
Also, considering the transition-heavy style and fast-paced flair the Raptors set for themselves this season, a player like Jakob Poeltl (who is just a step behind in that regard), looked even more expendable as a result. Toronto could hold up just fine with guys like Collin Murray-Boyles, Sandro Mamukelashvili, or Scottie Barnes filling that role instead (even if Barnes expressed his desire to play with a true five). Looking at CMB in particular, I don’t think it’s farfetched to say that his emergence quickly made some rethink the Raptors’ approach to their center depth.
Tracing back to an earlier season development, the Raptors were reportedly exploring options to move Poeltl’s contract in the lead-up to the trade deadline. Ultimately, they weren’t willing to include first-round draft capital to entice a team to take it on. Is that what the Raptors initially envisioned when they signed Poeltl to extra years last summer? Definitely not.
But even then, I think many Raptors supporters and basketball analysts could tell you that Toronto didn’t need to act so hastily with Poeltl’s immediate future and end up in a compromised position. And now that we’re heading into a very crucial first-round matchup where Poeltl will face a monster frontcourt duo in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, it’s understandable to feel some worry about how well the 30-year-old can sustain a matchable level against those two.
I feel like more often than not, given how much the Poeltl situation has declined, Raptors fans are just looking for the bare minimum out of him to avoid calling it a full-blown disaster. It shouldn't be a tall ask for your only 7-footer to grab rebounds and play decent defense against opposing bigs. But due to various factors at play, Jakob Poeltl’s 2025-26 season will be remembered as a forgettable and disappointing chapter.
Grade: D
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