Grading every Raptors free agency move after chaotic night
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors were going to be at the forefront of the NBA world on Friday night, and they certainly did not disappoint. On top of the fact they managed to retain some of their own players long-term, they also set the league on fire when they failed in their mission to bring back all of their big-name free agents.
Jakob Poeltl was one of the first names in free agency to come off the board, signing a very lucrative long-term deal that established him as a cornerstone of this franchise. Fred VanVleet was nearly retained with a long-term deal, but he chose to take a big payday in Houston.
Dennis Schroder, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, was also lured to Toronto after the VanVleet move in a deal that was accomplished by using up most of their MLE. With Gary Trent Jr. already discussing an extension, the Raptors have gone to work early on.
It goes without saying that this was one of the most chaotic and influential nights in Raptors franchise history, with some big moves that inevitably changed the dynamic of this franchise officially being consummated. How did Toronto fare in what became a genuinely game-changing evening?
Grading every Toronto Raptors free agency move on Day 1
Jakob Poeltl re-signs for 4-year, $80 million
This contract, like Masai Ujiri’s bold claim that Poeltl is one of the ten best centers in the league, seems outlandish until you dig deep and look at it closely. Poeltl was acquired for a steep price, but the Raptors did so believing they could lock up the Austrian big man long-term.
This contract is right on par with what Nikola Vucevic got from the Bulls. Poeltl is an equally skilled rebounder and is lightyears better on the defensive side of the ball. The advanced metrics show that Toronto was leaps and bounds better when Poeltl was on the floor.
The Toronto Raptors brought back Jakob Poeltl.
Poeltl will not fix the Raptors’ issues by himself, but he will go a long way when it comes to ensuring that Toronto remains a high-end defensive team. Precious Achiuwa struggled as a full-time center, and Christian Koloko is simply not ready for a starting spotyet.
Poeltl’s defensive wizardry and efficient play was often hidden under a vast canopy of losses on a tanking Spurs team. Those skeptical of his deal can easily be proven wrong if he starts playing as well as he did during the beginning of his second stint in Toronto.
Grade: A-