NBA Off-season Bombshell: Los Angeles Lakers Land $80 Million Toronto Raptors Big Man to bolster squad around Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

NBA Offseason Shocker: Lakers Acquire $80M Raptors Big Man Jakob Poeltl to Anchor Frontcourt with Luka Dončić and LeBron James

In a jaw-dropping offseason twist, the Los Angeles Lakers have acquired Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl in a move that could reshape the Western Conference title race. The deal, reportedly worth $80 million over four years, gives the Lakers a legitimate interior presence to complement the star power of Luka Dončić and LeBron James.

Poeltl, 29, instantly fills a glaring need for the Lakers, who desperately lacked rim protection and frontcourt stability during their recent playoff run. After another early postseason exit exposed their defensive shortcomings in the paint, Lakers management made upgrading the center position a top priority. Poeltl, a proven shot-blocker and savvy pick-and-roll defender, checks every box.

Over the 2024–25 season with Toronto, Poeltl averaged 10.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 61% from the field. His screen-setting, rebounding, and rim protection may not always show up in highlight reels, but his impact on winning basketball is undeniable. The Lakers believe Poeltl’s defense-first mentality and low-maintenance offensive game make him the perfect third piece alongside their two superstars.

For a Lakers team now built around the brilliance of Dončić and the experience of LeBron, Poeltl’s addition signals a shift toward balance. Luka’s offensive wizardry reached new heights last season, but without a true defensive anchor behind him, the Lakers were vulnerable in the paint. With Poeltl in the fold, Dončić should have more freedom to take over games offensively without being forced to carry the load on both ends.

LeBron James, entering what could realistically be his final NBA season, reportedly endorsed the move and emphasized the importance of defense and physicality in the postseason. While he continues to perform at an elite level, the Lakers are clearly moving toward a structure that can thrive beyond his eventual retirement—with Dončić and now Poeltl as foundational pieces.

Poeltl’s fit with the roster also allows Anthony Davis to shift more permanently to the power forward spot, where he has historically been more comfortable and effective. That adjustment alone could make the Lakers a more versatile and dangerous team on both ends of the floor.

With this acquisition, the Lakers’ projected starting five—Dončić, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Jakob Poeltl—boasts a mix of elite passing, shooting, defense, and postseason experience. Few teams in the West, or the entire league, can match that level of talent and balance.

As the NBA’s 2025–26 season approaches, one thing is clear: the Lakers aren’t waiting around. They’re building a squad to win now—and they’ve made their move. In a league where defense often separates contenders from pretenders, Jakob Poeltl might just be the missing piece Los Angeles has been searching for.

All eyes will be on L.A. this fall as the Dončić-LeBron-Poeltl trio takes the floor—each with something to prove, and a championship in sight.