Lucas Nogueira and Jakob Poeltl step in with mix of skills that add up to early success.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—There’s the bubbly, always smiling Brazilian who has been betrayed by his body more times than he’d like to admit.
There’s the rather laconic Austrian still finding his way in the NBA, a promising youngster who discovers something new every time he steps on the court.
It is an unusual coupling, this two-headed Toronto Raptors centre monster of Lucas Nogueira and Jakob Poeltl, but it has given rise to optimism around the team that a suitable backup exists for Jonas Valanciunas, and a starter for whenever the incumbent is unavailable.