The Toronto Raptors have navigated a significant portion of their NBA season without their starting centre, but the team's leadership is clear: this path is not a sustainable one for long-term success. Jakob Poeltl, sidelined with a persistent lower back strain, has now missed the past six consecutive games and a total of 21 this season, leaving a substantial void in the team's frontcourt.
A Critical Update Looms for the Raptors' Big Man
According to head coach Darko Rajakovic, Poeltl is making progress, primarily measured through his ability to maintain conditioning via workouts. However, the Austrian centre has yet to participate in any full-contact practice, keeping his return timeline firmly in the realm of the unknown. The Raptors organization announced a week ago that Poeltl would be re-evaluated after one week of intensive rehabilitation, setting up Monday, January 5, 2026, as a pivotal day for an update on his status.
Poeltl's last appearance was brief and underwhelming; he played only seven minutes in a road loss to the Brooklyn Nets in late December. Since then, the Raptors have relied on a patchwork solution at the five-spot, with Sandro Mamukelashvili stepping into the starting role. While the Georgian-born player has shown flashes—notably an ability to space the floor and attack the basket—his defensive limitations and size disadvantage are exposed over extended minutes. Coach Rajakovic and analysts view him as a valuable bench piece on a competitive team, not a long-term starting solution.
Defensive Deficiencies Exposed in Poeltl's Absence
The Raptors' current roster construction has glaring defensive weaknesses that Poeltl's presence would directly address. Beyond All-Star Scottie BarnesBrandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, who are not known for their defensive prowess. Poeltl's role as a paint protector, rim defender, and rebounder is irreplaceable with the team's existing personnel.
"It's no secret the makeup of this roster iteration is devoid of toughness," the analysis notes, pointing out that while Poeltl may not be considered an enforcer, he provides the essential interior resistance the team desperately lacks. This has been evident in the team's inconsistent performances, such as recently allowing 41 points in a single quarter to the Atlanta Hawks before clamping down to hold them to 11 in a subsequent period.
Stopgap Measures and Playoff Positioning
In Poeltl's absence, the Raptors have experimented with smaller lineups, using Scottie Barnes as a de facto centre in certain matchups. The recent signing of Mo Bamba was a move born of necessity, underscored by the fact his contract is non-guaranteed until January 10—the date when 10-day contracts can be offered. Bamba has seen minimal court time, and his future with the club remains uncertain.
Despite the significant injury to a key starter, Toronto has compiled a respectable 21-15 record, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference as of early January. They have managed to sweep three games from the Atlanta Hawks this season, a wing-oriented team against which Poeltl's absence is less critical. However, the consensus is that this success is built on a shaky foundation. "In the NBA, size matters," the report emphasizes, suggesting it is only a matter of time before the lack of a true, impactful big man catches up to them against more physically imposing opponents.
The return of a healthy Jakob Poeltl would dramatically alter the Raptors' ceiling this season. Until then, the team remains in a holding pattern, awaiting the crucial Monday update and hoping their centre's fickle back issues resolve in time to solidify a playoff push that currently feels precarious.
