The Toronto Raptors rumors over the last few days have centered (no pun intended) on San Antonio Spurs rim protector Jakob Poeltl. After Masai Ujiri burned a lottery pick on him and used the talented Austrian to land Kawhi Leonard, rumors of a reunion have sprouted up.
Marc Stein mentioned in his latest column that the Raptors have a degree of interest in bringing Poeltl back to Toronto. After developing under Gregg Popovich, Poeltl has become an adequate interior finisher and near-elite post defender.
Poeltl is averaging 12.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game this season. With Toronto in dire need of some defense and extra rebounding, the Raptors may need to get a rebuilding San Antonio on the phone and figure out what Popovich wants in return for a player of his caliber.
Toronto might not be willing to move any of their starters, but they have enough draft picks and assets available to entice San Antonio into making a deal. Could we see one of these three trades get pulled off at some point in the near future?
3 Toronto Raptors trades for Spurs big Jakob Poeltl
Trade No. 1: Dealing away a veteran
In this deal, Toronto gives the Spurs some draft picks, the expiring contract of a player who would see his playing time reduced if Poeltl came to town in Boucher, and a disappointing former first-rounder in Flynn. The Spurs are building towards the future, and this gives them some assets to jump-start their rebuild.
Boucher is not a high-usage big, yet he’s been able to rebound from a sluggish start and remember as a quality scorer and rebounder over the last few weeks. A free agent after this season, the Spurs could get multiple months worth of film on Boucher before potentially giving him a contract Toronto might not be able to afford.
Toronto Raptors rumors: Jakob Poeltl is stronger than Chris Boucher.
Flynn has worn out his welcome in Toronto, as Nick Nurse has deemed him unworthy of any playing time beyond a few meaningless garbage time minutes. Perhaps hitting the reset button and emerging as a backup in San Antonio could jump-start his career.
Once the dust has settled, Poeltl will be in Raptors red and black. With Boucher and Flynn both potentially not in the plans for Toronto next season, adding a player like Poeltl might be the best way to plug a huge hole ahead of a potential playoff push in 2022.
Trade No. 2: Offloading Goran Dragic
The Raptors have been looking for a way to get rid of Dragic’s contract, and San Antonio might just help them get out of this pickle. Even if Dragic refuses to play for San Antonio, they could try to get back an expiring contract and a late draft pick from a contender in exchange.
Toronto would need to surrender an unprotected first here, as they are both saddling San Antonio with an unsavory contract and acquiring a veteran bench presence in Young along with Poeltl. With Boucher on the move again, this trade might work out well for both parties.
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Thaddeus Young would be a nice switchable big that could provide even more depth and experience to a team lacking in both of those areas. Poeltl could be a potential starter at center given what a dominant presence he has been in the post this season. Plus Dragic will finally be out of town!
Giving up an unprotected first might be tough for Ujiri given how young this team is and the success that he had picking players late in the first round, but that is the going rate for a player that can change the game in the way Poeltl can.
Trade No. 3: The long shot
You never know what you can get away with until you ask. With Dejounte Murray establishing himself as a star in this league, Devin Vassell continuing to develop, and San Antonio in possession of what should be a high draft pick in 2022, they could reboot their backcourt by trading White.
White is averaging 14.5 points and 5.5 assists per game while starting consistently for the Spurs. If he does get moved, Toronto could easily turn him into a Sixth Man of the Year contender considering the green light he would get. they would need to give up tons of worthwhile assets to make this deal happen, however.
Toronto Raptors rumors: Will Masai Ujiri get Jakob Poeltl, Derrick White?
Achiuwa might be as inconsistent as the day is long, but he is still a promising prospect that is worth developing. Giving him up in addition to Boucher while relinquishing control of the draft to San Antonio for multiple seasons is tough, but the Raptors’ bench would get an immense upgrade with these two.
Both Poeltl and White are under contract for next season, so Toronto would not be parting with all of these assets in order to acquire someone that is only going to be in town for half of one season. Toronto would be set up for success in 2022 and beyond if this deal happens.