Unfinished business top of mind in Jakob Poeltl's return to Raptors

Getting some closure on some unfinished business is just one of the reasons Jakob Poeltl is back with the Toronto Raptors.

Poeltl and Jalen McDaniels were formally introduced by the Raptors on Thursday after a week of media speculation that they had signed with the team as free agents. Poeltl, who was drafted by Toronto and returned to the Raptors in a trade on Feb. 9, said he wanted to finish what he started with the team last season.

"We really didn't end the season the way we wanted to," said Poeltl, referring to Toronto's play-in loss to the Chicago Bulls. "I know I feel comfortable here in this city, in this team, with these fans.

"There's a lot of really good positives here in Toronto and they all kind of mushed together for this decision to happen the way it happened."

Poeltl was selected ninth overall by the Raptors in 2016, becoming the first Austrian player in league history. He was traded to the San Antonio Spurs before the 2018-19 season in the deal that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, and was reacquired at last season's trade deadline for Khem Birch, a first-round pick in 2024 and second-round picks in 2023 and 2025.

Toronto failed to make the playoffs and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 41-41 record, losing to Chicago 109-105 in the first round of the NBA's play-in tournament.

"It's definitely something we're going to have to build on," said Poeltl at a news conference inside Scotiabank Arena. "Hopefully we'll have a season where we're not even putting ourselves in a situation like that.

"[We want a situation] where we have our fate decided in a seven-game series and not a one-and-done game."