Toronto needs a new Center

[OhCanada]

Teams are attacking Poeltl. Hes become the weak point of our defense and weve put all our eggs into the Jakob basket.

Atlanta did our first game and fouled him out, teams have taken notice early in the year and I think this is becoming a league-wide strategy. Hes not a bad player but he does not fit our defensie schemes. He doesnt apply any pressure hes a wall up, dont reach defender. Our defense needs our Center to cleanup mistakes and apply pressure because guys are always gambling or overdefending. He cant do that. He doesnt have quick reactions or reflexes. In our defensive scheme he is always going to be late to looses balls and help position thats why at the end of every possession opposing teams finish with Poeltl out of position or late to help.

I'd rather start Scottie at Center but thats asking alot for a 6'8 player with a $40 per year contract. Probably something he would not be too enthusiastic to do. There arent very many options available that do not end up with trading draft capitol.

[TRik]

The fact that we screwed two drafts in obtaining him makes it all the more difficult to accept.

[Kingsway_fan]

He's not healthy... They should move Barnes to C.

[Son Goku 25]

He's definitely not right. Maybe he overplayed in the summer.

[nikster]

He's definitely not right. Maybe he overplayed in the summer.

He hurt his back and missed all of training camp and most of preseason.

I shouldn't be surprised were having these hot takes, but we should be giving him at least a few weeks. Also the board would freak out at the cost to acquire a better Centre as throwing away assets for a win now move

[MoneyBall]

We just need Poeltl to get healthy, it's as simple as that.

[kwajo]

"Toronto needs a new center"

What year is this? Feels like we have this discussion every season.

[Godaddycurse]

Start CMB and rest Poeltl

[Raptorfan2012]

Trade Ochai to the Suns for Nick Richards
Sign a vet min like Bol Bol, Mo Bamba, Kai Jones; just a tall dude can block a few shots and has some verticals
Start CMB as a C; he is only around an inch shorter than guys like Al Horford, Ben Wallace etc, but he knows how to defend and play the post very well.

[Jadoogar]

The fact that we screwed two drafts in obtaining him makes it all the more difficult to accept.

oh and we just signed him to a huge extension.
Great stuff

[MEDIC]

"Toronto needs a new center"

What year is this? Feels like we have this discussion every season.

Since 1995. That's how Hoffa happened. That's how the Yogi Stewart contract happened. Our Championship core was the only time in History that this team had sold depth at the 5.

I don't know what it is about this FO, but they won't draft legit bigs. They always say "well, we can just pick one up for cheap somewhere.......they are a dime a dozen". Then they proceed to not pick up anyone useful.

They should gave given that Sarr brother a contract. The guy played with energy, he blocked shots, he's quick.

What a waste of a pick Martin and Mogbo were. They had plenty of chancrs.

[Mister Ze]

"Toronto needs a new center"

What year is this? Feels like we have this discussion every season.

Literally since Marc Gasol left it seems like an annual discussion.

[MEDIC]

Looks like Sarr is doing training camp with the 905.

Pat McCaw sighting!

[Raptorfan2012]

Looks like Sarr is doing training camp with the 905.

Pat McCaw sighting!

Really should have gave that last 2-way to Sarr instead of Lawson. We really need another 7 footer on this team esp with Jak's bad back and losing Chomche.

[JPHolling]

Start CMB and rest Poeltl

agreed. Lets give small ball a chance. this should give CMB more leeway with the refs to play more physical as well

[ConSarnit]

If this thing falls apart because of Poeltl (an average starting C) we have much bigger issues. The other starters make $135m combined. If they can’t carry some of the load then an upgrade at C makes no sense. Let’s not repeat 2023 and try to throw lipstick on a pig.

[ciueli]

New management already off to a great start, they signed an aging traditional big man C coming off a season where he missed games with back issues to a large contract extension, now he doesn't even look like an NBA calibre player and he's on the books for 5 more seasons. Amazing work, Bobby, maybe I was too hasty in blaming Masai for the failures of the last 5 years?

[Los_29]

lol classic Raptors RealGM hot take.

[Shakril]

This thread just underscores one thing:

Without a healthy Poeltl we are screwed.
What we witnessed the last two season is also true this year, without him, we are very bad at defense.

We all should pray and hope its nothing serious, cause if Poeltl regressed that much in just 2-3 months we are in deep trouble.
But i have hope, cause he never had a major injury, even if the one month in january 23, were he sat, was not a big issue.

So it might not be a big issue now. Sadly, we need patience.

[ItsDanger]

Read on Twitter

They didn't extend him.