Jakob Poeltl has come to be beloved by the Toronto Raptors fanbase. But as much as the fans don't want to see him go, it's going to be important everyone understand that if this team is to make a big swing for a star player, Poeltl is almost certainly going to have to be part of the deal.
This is just the reality of Toronto's situation in the current NBA landscape. It has nothing to do with Jakob's output as a player, and everything to do with making the money work so that this team does not become financially handicapped moving forward.
Raptors fans saw Poeltl spend the first two seasons of his professional career in Toronto, earning his way to a starting role and an 18 minutes-per-game role by year two. Then suddenly, an opportunity to acquire a game-changing player arose, and he was abruptly traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the trade for Kawhi Leonard.
It was in South Texas that Jakob continued to prove his value in this league. In four and a half seasons with the Spurs, he became a nightly double-double threat and a highly efficient scorer around the rim. Plenty of Raptors fans felt like they were missing out, but the FOMO was reversed quickly when he found his way back to Toronto in 2023.
The Raptors will have to include Jakob Poeltl in any trade for a star
In the last almost three years, Poeltl has continued to be a rock on the interior, and he's been one of the most consistent producers on a roster that has continued to change and evolve. It's understandable why Raptors fans would want to keep him around, as he's become a sort of grounding presence that's always around.
But the fact of the matter is, Jakob's contract dictates that he will almost certainly have to be moved in the event Toronto wants to make a deal for a big name. That's entirely because of his contract situation. Poeltl has this season and next on his current deal, but then he's already signed for three additional years after that, too.
In those next three seasons, he'll earn north of $84 million. That's a big number for a guy who isn't really a star player, and the Raptors have other options they can turn to for replacement minutes at the center position.
The reality is that Toronto simply can't allow themselves to be tied to that large of a contract in addition to another inevitably big deal if they bring in a star. It's unfortunate, but the reality is that Jakob Poeltl is the most obvious name to go if the Raptors win the sweepstakes for a big-name player.