Will the Addition of Jakob Poeltl Help the Toronto Raptors?

Jakob Poeltl is the first Austrian basketball player to ever be drafted into the NBA G League. He played with the Toronto Raptors for his first two seasons from 2016 to 2018, before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Poeltl and DeMar DeRozen were traded for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. After this trade, the Raptors won the World Championship Series.

However, Poeltl has shown that he’s not a player who should be written off. His career has done a 360, and now he’s one of the most in-demand basketball players. Since his 2018 trade, Poeltl has become known as one of the most underrated center players in the game, especially given the fact that he’s only missed six shots so far this season.

On February 9, 2023, it was announced that Poeltl was being traded back to the Toronto Raptors. His former teammate and best friend Pascal Siakam is happy to have him back on the team. Siakam isn’t the only one excited about the news; it’s predicted that this trade will be huge for the Raptors, especially if they plan to see another big win.

How is the Toronto Raptors Roster Looking with Jakob Poeltl?

It’s no secret that the Raptors need to make some changes if they want to improve their performance this season. The addition of Poeltl is an excellent move for the team’s defence and areas in which the team needs to make huge improvements to have a chance at making the playoffs.

So, why is Poeltl a beacon of hope for the Raptors? The team struggled with rim protection and maintaining an effective 3-point range. During his career with the Spurs, many coaches and players recognized Poeltl’s offensive skills, especially his strong rim protection.

In the early season this year, Raptors fans were disappointed since the team didn’t have the same edge they had years prior. In the short time that Poeltl has been back for the season, it’s fair to say he’s transformed the team. The Raptors now have a much improved defensive rating and offensive rating. Their defensive rating is now better than the Cavaliers, who previously held the title.

Fans celebrated on February 15, 2023, when Toronto beat Orlando Magic. During this game, Poeltl scored 30 points, had nine rebounds, two assists, and had 6 blocks. Moreover, in the past 4 games, he has only missed six shots. It’s easy to see why he is a huge asset to the team this season, especially if they want to get a big win.

The energy that Poeltl brings to the Raptors can’t be matched, and he’s put the spirit back in the Raptors as they take on rivals. Basketball fans have seen a new life in the Raptor’s gameplay and are interested in what the rest of the season brings.

Did the Trade Move the Betting Lines At All?

It’s no secret that the Jakob Poeltl trade has severely impacted how the Raptors play on the court. The 30 points he scored to help his team win against Orlando was just the beginning of his return. So, how has this affected the betting lines?

Despite the positive media coverage, there hasn’t been a lot of movement on the betting lines from this trade. Even though the Jakob Poeltl Toronto Raptors trade has been very significant this season, the betting lines still remain the same.

NBA futures for 2023 have named the Boston Celtics as the team to beat. The odds vary between different sportsbooks; BetRivers currently has odds of +300, while PointsBet Canada lists them with odds of +275.

The only recent trade to significantly impact the team’s odds is the Phoenix Suns’ acquisition of Kevin Durant, which has boosted the Suns’ odds, making them one of the favourites. They’re listed as the second and third teams to beat throughout several top sportsbooks.

Why Odds Aren’t Changing Yet

Defence is one area where Toronto was struggling. With Poeltl back on the team, it seems like the team has found the perfect solution to their problem. So, why haven’t the betting odds changed for this team?

While the team has made a major improvement, they haven’t shaken things up as much as other teams that have moved up on the bettings lines. Many believe that Masai Ujiri (team president), Bobby Webster (team manager), and the front office haven’t made the necessary changes to the team’s core game.

A major reason why the team hasn’t been able to surprise anyone they’re playing against is that they have a history of using the same methods, and it doesn’t shock rivals.

Currently, the Raptors are sitting in the middle of the betting lines for futures. Sports Interaction has them listed with odds of +9900. BetRivers and PointsBet both have the Raptors listed with odds of +15,000. However, Poeltl and the team still have a few more months to change these odds.