While the Toronto Raptors didn’t make as bombastic a trade as shipping Kevin Durant over to the Phoenix Suns, they did manage to make a noteworthy move by acquiring Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Khem Birch, a protected first-round pick, and two second-round picks.
San Antonio, who is right in the middle of the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, clearly has no interest in retaining Poeltl long-term as they try to get younger and cheaper. Ujiri used a top-10 pick on the Austrian big man way back when, so he clearly has respect and appreciation for his game.
Poeltl has averaged 12.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game over the last two seasons with the Spurs. While he always profiled as a quality defender, Poeltl’s rim protection has really stepped up in the last few years. Toronto is getting a very prized asset.
While the Spurs appear to have come out on top in the recent Thad Young for Malaki Branham swap, there are reasons (three of them, in fact) to believe that the Raptors may have gotten the better of Gregg Popovich and RC Buford in this deal.
3 reasons Toronto Raptors won Jakob Poeltl trade
1. Solved rim protection issue
At the end of the day, the deadline is meant to be a time when teams can identify their most significant areas of need and find practical solutions with which they can fix those issues. Toronto needed a center that could make their defense work, and Poeltl certainly provides that.
Christian Koloko showed some promise, but he is still a year away from being someone who can be trusted as a reliable starter. Precious Achiuwa tries his best, but he can only do so much at 6-8. Poeltl could be the key that ends up unlocking this defense.
The Toronto Raptors’ defense improved with Jakob Poeltl.
Toronto’s aggression and switching on defense can be very chaotic when executed properly, but it’s also difficult for that scheme to have its’ desired effect when there is no one to clean up the mess at the rim. Poeltl isn’t Hakeem Olajuwon, but he’s certainly above-average.
Advanced numbers (subscription required) show that the defense was much better when Koloko was on the court, and he was performing so inconsistently that Toronto had to go all-in on Poeltl. With a more experienced, high-quality option at center, this defense can get back on track.