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.
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.
3. Dumping Khem Birch’s contract
After getting bought out by the Magic after years as a garden-variety backup big man, Birch ended up returning to his homeland and signing with the Raptors in the Tampa bubble. After averaging 11.9 points per game, Birch signed a massive three-year contract worth over $20 million.
Birch wasted no time proving that Toronto was foolish for giving him that deal. He fell out of the rotation early in his first full season with the team, and his appearances in 2022-23 have been limited to spot duty or mop-up chances when the outcome of the game has been determined.
The Toronto Raptors got rid of Khem Birch.
While $7 million per season may not sound like an outrageous financial burden to avoid, a Raptors ownership group that is often very hesitant about going into the luxury tax will love every bit of financial wiggle room they can get. Birch will likely get bought out by a Spurs team prioritizing youth.
While Birch likely brought something to the locker room, serving as a veteran voice on a young team with players like Koloko who are still growing, holding onto him didn’t make any sense from a basketball point of view. Toronto did well to offload him and give him a chance to set himself up for success in a new location, wherever that is.