3 reasons Raptors clearly won Jakob Poeltl trade with Spurs
By Mike Luciano
2. Didn’t trade Gary Trent Jr. to San Antonio
Part of what made the Poeltl pursuit so illogical was the idea that Trent would have to be included in the deal with either San Antonio or a third team. The fact that Trent is still on the roster (at time of writing) is an impressive feat that leaves Toronto in a very flexible position.
Trent can still be dealt, but the Raptors can easily get back a controllable shooter on a cheaper contract while recouping the draft capital they used to acquire Poeltl. While this wouldn’t necessarily be the move I would make if I had my druthers, Ujiri essentially swapping out Trent for a high-end replacement and Poeltl has some logical sense to it.
The Toronto Raptors still have Gary Trent Jr.
If the Raptors can hold on to Poeltl and Trent while moving a starter like OG Anunoby for picks and players, there is no reason why they won’t be able to compete for a postseason spot. With the Brooklyn Nets waiving the white flag, the East is wide open.
If the Raptors made it up in their mind that Trent is going to be traded, sending him to a contender for a haul of picks and young players would be better than sending him to a taking team who will not retain him for a center that could have been acquired through other means.