On March 28, the Toronto Raptors faced off against the Charlotte Hornets, a team that might not pose the biggest challenge to them.
But still, the boys up north played impressively across the board, largely due to the outstanding efforts of their talented trio: Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and the big fella down low, Jakob Poeltl.
The BPQ trio (Barnes, Poeltl, Quickley) looked great for the Raptors
Undoubtedly, the standout performer in this game was definitely Poeltl. He had a powerful showcase, finishing with 24 points on 12-of-14 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, three assists, and one block, all in just over 26 minutes of play.
But his job wouldn't be so flawless and effective without the tremendous complementary efforts of Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Those gentlemen demonstrated how crucial their playmaking is to an eventual Raptors victory, as Barnes recorded six assists in the Hornets game, while Quickley notched nine assists.
In fact, of the 12 successful attempts that Poeltl made against the Hornets, nine were assisted by either Barnes or Quickley (five from Barnes, four from IQ), demonstrating that both of them can effectively find the veteran center.
I recently wrote about how Poeltl has arguably been the Raptors' most consistent and important player this season, showing that despite the ups and downs, his stellar play has remained a bright spot throughout.
This season could have been a turning point for Poeltl's standing in the Raptors' pecking order for the foreseeable future. Before the trade deadline, I mentioned that they might consider trading him for various packages if they didn’t envision a future with him. Fast forward to today, and it's getting harder to justify shopping Poeltl on the trade block, especially considering how crucial he's been for Toronto throughout the season.
He has also been a tremendous running mate with RJ Barrett at various points throughout the season, demonstrating that he can fit seamlessly alongside any teammates in any situation. Although, this three-man lineup of Barnes, Quickley, and Poeltl might have the highest potential and ceiling—especially considering they’ll have another primary option next year with a healthy Brandon Ingram joining the fray.
Early rumors have begun to swirl around the Raptors, hinting that they might look to reshape their clunky roster. Names like Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett have already been suggested to be explored on the trade block in the past. Even Quickley faced the risk of becoming a disposable asset, but thanks to his recent performances, he's regained his place in the Raptors' core.
However, the front office needs to understand the value of keeping Poeltl, as he complements the core players very well and strengthens the overall team. His improvement as a center, even at 29 years old, is also a point that deserves attention.
Bobby Webster noted in the Ingram introductory media session that the Raptors aren’t overly concerned about the luxury tax. Although, they do need to tackle the logjam in their wing positions and resolve other kinks around their roster.
But, this doesn’t mean they should abandon the promising trio of Barnes, Quickley, and Poeltl just yet. Keeping them together could play a crucial role in the success Toronto is aiming for in the future. It might be wise for them to take a step back and see how everything unfolds before making any rash decisions.