Poeltl stays the steady core as the Raptors navigate a rebuild, focusing on gradual improvement rather than a revolution. Toronto uses preseason to test depth and timing, resting starters while evaluating the last roster spot. A late bench run—Mogbo’s buzzer-beater, Dick’s 22, Hepburn’s crunch-time bursts—highlights the path: cohesion, versatility, and incremental gains around Poeltl as the season nears.