Among the Raptors’ main list of priorities this summer has to include finding better center depth and considerable size, outside of their aging big man Jakob Poeltl.
Poeltl’s injury troubles and his limited ability to impact the Raptors were a recurring storyline throughout the regular season. Things only got worse for Poeltl and the Raps as the postseason got underway, with the 30-year-old big struggling mightily against a much bigger and tougher Cavaliers frontcourt. And to only make the situation more complicated (at least for Poeltl), it speaks volumes when Toronto’s undersized, but driven rookie Collin Murray-Boyles outshines you at the position.Â
Case in point, the future of Jakob Poeltl is largely up in the air, whether it comes down to his role or figuring out a reasonable path for Toronto to offload his money.
Unfortunately, the rumor mill has come out to suggest that Poeltl and even another questionable Raptors contract in Immanuel Quickley, are far from desirable assets in the trade market. A team like Sacramento has been linked to Toronto in these talks, but it’s been reported that they have zero interest in taking on either contracts. However, there has been another team circulating as a Poeltl suitor for quite some time now, and it could just be the most logical destination for the Austrian center at this point in his career.Â
That team in question is the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jakob Poeltl could find a new home in Memphis (and the way forward just got a lot more clear)
Memphis has their center of the future in Zach Edey, however, their frontcourt depth looks severely depleted outside of the former Purdue standout. The Grizzlies traded away Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale, and not to mention that Edey’s injury concerns remain a key hurdle for Memphis to work around. They could either opt to find a young big in the draft, address the need in free agency, or trade for a veteran center who can play behind Edey or slot in for the interim and won’t exactly take away from the youngster’s development or role. Knock knock, Jakob Poeltl.
As great as this all sounds on-paper, the obvious hurdle facing Toronto is the likelihood of including alluring draft capital to sway the Grizzlies on a deal. It won't so simple as to just send Poeltl away and Toronto can ride off into the sunset, no longer with the burden of that contract. It’s likely going to take some draft picks (likely first-round capital) sprinkled in to get Memphis fully on board.
Aside from this likely inclusion on Toronto’s side of a hypothetical deal, earlier today, we got a contract update on a key Grizzlies player asset who could be the headlining piece coming back to the Raptors. Per reports, two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has exercised his $21.6 million player option for the upcoming 2026-27 season. He signed that deal originally with the Orlando Magic in the 2024 offseason, until he was traded to the Grizzlies as part of last summer’s blockbuster Desmond Bane trade.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would be an interesting veteran addition for the Raptors
Now that KCP is officially signed on to return to Memphis, his one-year expiring deal could be the perfect salary to match Poeltl’s in a trade.Â
Sure, Caldwell-Pope is 33 years old and seemingly on the tail end of his NBA career, however, he is still a battle-tested veteran with championship pedigree to his name. For a young squad like Toronto that could use vet mentors of this nature, KCP can be a solid addition for that role, and still warrant consistent minutes, instead of simply being another Garrett Temple (all due respect). In Denver and Los Angeles, he was the perfect complimentary 3-and-D swingman, and even if those best days are behind him — it’s still something thought-provoking for the Raptors to consider in a trade scenario here.
Of course, there’s the worry of what Toronto does next at the center position and the potential loss of first-round assets, but if we’re led to believe the Memphis link with Poeltl is still alive here — it might simply be a matter of time before both sides get a deal done.Â
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