Raptors center Jakob Poeltl’s return remains a mystery, leaving fans frustrated as the team struggles without their defensive anchor.
The 7-foot-1 Austrian has missed five straight games heading into the All-Star break, with Toronto managing just one win during that stretch. It’s been a tough blow for a team that’s already having a rough season.
Poeltl’s having the best year of his career, putting up impressive numbers across the board:
* 14.2 points per game
* 10.1 rebounds (team-best)
* 2.8 assists
* 61% shooting from the field
The big man spoke to reporters after practice Wednesday, saying he’s “feeling good” and “getting his wind back.” But there’s still no clear timeline for when he’ll actually suit up again.
Toronto’s playoff hopes are fading fast. They’ve already dropped 38 games this season, and oddsmakers give them +1100 odds to even make the play-in tournament. That’s not great.
Without Poeltl protecting the rim (he averages 1.3 blocks per game), the Raptors have had to lean heavily on RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes for production.
Some fantasy basketball managers aren’t buying the injury uncertainty. They’re convinced there’s something else going on.
“The Raptors are serious with tanking. If they can avoid playing him, they will,” one Reddit user posted.
Another fan was even more direct: “They’ll do this with all their main guys. Raptors aren’t trying to win and don’t care about building chemistry. They’re tanking for the best pick.”
While that might be a bit extreme given Poeltl’s positive practice update, it’s hard to ignore the whispers. As Toronto’s season slips away, every loss does improve their draft lottery odds.
The team’s next few games should reveal whether they’re truly focused on development – or if they’ve got their eyes on bigger prizes in the upcoming draft.
