The Toronto Raptors are talented enough to sniff the play-in, yet far from the inner circle of contenders. The front office has been aggressive in securing talent, but not necessarily in building a long-term plan. This is a team that feels stuck in basketball purgatory. They have paid premium prices for “good” without knowing how to reach “great.” Now, with the roster expensive and the pathway to contention unclear, a shake-up may be inevitable.

Big Money, Little Clarity

The Raptors’ decision to hand Jakob Poeltl a three-year, $84.5 million extension feels steep. It locks him in until he’s 34 and came a full two years before he was set to hit free agency. It’s unclear what the rush was. Sure, Poeltl is coming off his most productive offensive season. However, his defensive impact has

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