Grade the Trade: Raptors unload veteran for deadeye, draft first in bright future

Grade the Trade: Should the Raptors say yes?

The Toronto Raptors gave up a lot to acquire Jakob Poeltl, and then signed him to a new contract to keep him under contract long-term. He appears to be highly valued by Masai Ujiri and the front office. In this scenario where the Raptors land the No. 1 pick they will still owe a protected first-round pick in the future from the Poeltl trade.

Divorcing the cost to acquire him from the equation, however, there is reason to think that Jakob Poeltl will be a negative value on his current contract as early as a year from now. Dynamic young centers continue to enter the league, and given Poeltl's lack of offensive skill or defensive scheme versatility, it's unlikely he will have many suitors around the league.

If the Raptors were to draft Alex Sarr or Donovan Clingan in this year's draft, they would be smart to trade Poeltl for anything of value this summer and get off of his contract before it turns into an albatross.

A deal that lands a dynamic young movement shooter who just finished his rookie deal and another first-round pick? That's a no-brainer trade to make, especially as this construction involves no salary coming back but Hawkins' meager rookie-scale deal.

The Raptors would move forward with a young core of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Jordan Hawkins, Gradey Dick, Scottie Barnes and Alex Sarr. That's one heck of a foundation to build on.

Grade: A