The Raptors are poised to be major players in the Eastern Conference heading into next season. Kawhi Leonard is back and locked in for the future, and there are huge expectations around that game-changing deal for this Toronto squad moving forward. Plus, the continued rise and development of key pieces like Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and the rest will all play crucial roles in determining just how high this Raptors team can soar.
But even with their big fish secured and a talented cast of players eager to make their mark, I’m not sure you can look at this Raptors roster and see it as without holes. The team still has plenty of work to do in various areas and a whole lot of questions hanging over them.
How will Immanuel Quickley look next season? Is their current guard play enough to handle a tough playoff series? What’s the deal with RJ Barrett moving forward? Where will the Raptors find reliable three-point shooting — maybe Jamison Battle is poised for a breakout? And can the Raptors finally address their rebounding issues and concerns at the center spot — especially when it comes to Jakob Poeltl?
Floating around the ideas to get off the Poeltl money has been plenty here on Raptors Rapture. It raised some red flags back then, and with the benefit of hindsight, it looks even more crippling. While it might not be easy to shed the Poeltl salary quickly, it’s not exactly impossible. In fact, the Memphis Grizzlies stand out as a franchise that could help Toronto solve their Poeltl dilemma.
Memphis has completely cleaned house of their core players from the recent competitive era, moving on from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane all within the past two seasons. Now, they’re trying to build a new chapter, with recent draftee Cam Boozer likely leading the charge into this next Grizzlies generation.
After trading away Triple J and additional moves in the aftermath, the Grizzlies actually opened up a massive traded player exception. That gives them the ability to absorb large salaries in a trade without needing to match the exact money going out. I’ve looked at the Grizzlies as a top Poeltl destination before, back when they still had Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on their books. But that quickly changed after they bought him out, and he ended up signing with the 76ers.
Even now, looking ahead to next season, the Grizzlies may still consider helping out Toronto by taking on Poeltl’s salary in exchange for attractive first-round pick compensation.
Raptors could land some appealing players in potential Grizzlies–Poeltl trade framework
However, as Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron Podcast recently points out, it doesn’t make much sense in today’s NBA to just dump bad contracts without getting something in return. Recent trades show that including a useful player in the deal can really help swing the upside of an otherwise lopsided transaction. Despite the Grizzlies’ status as a rebuilding team, they’ve got some intriguing trade candidates like Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and even Isaiah Stewart.
We’re not far removed from Ty Jerome’s days as an underrated piece with the Cavaliers, and even though he’s been largely injured during his time with the Grizzlies so far, he still offers a lot of upside. As a combo guard with decent playmaking and sneaky shooting ability (two things the Raptors desperately need a boost), he’s worth keeping an eye on.
On the other hand, Scotty Pippen Jr. fits that Raptors-centric mold of small, scrappy guards who bring hustle on defense. Meanwhile, Isaiah Stewart, who wasn’t mentioned in the Third Apron episode but has already caught the eye on Raptors Rapture before, is exactly the kind of player Toronto would love to have. A burly, enforcer-type big man who’s not afraid to play rough and embrace the physical side of the game — definitely a step up from the regressing Poeltl and right in line with someone like CMB on this roster.
Toronto will probably experiment with this current group of talent early on to see how they fit and gel. But as the season progresses, you can bet the Raptors will be looking at small-scale options to bolster their core as they look to make a deep playoff push. Names like Jerome, Pippen Jr., or Stewart are all attractive pieces that could make the potential cost (giving up a first-rounder or organizing pick swaps alongside the Poeltl contract) more justifiable.
Add us as a preferred source on Google