The Toronto Raptors are one of the most compelling young teams in the NBA. No less than four players on the Raptors' roster have shown signs of All-Star potential, and each of those standouts is 25 or younger.
As injuries and inexperience hinder the Raptors' short-term dreams of contending, however, the trade market has inevitably become a topic of conversation—and some fans may not like what's being said.
The Raptors have loaded up on perimeter talent, with Scottie Barnes leading a group that includes Ochai Agbaji, RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, and Immanuel Quickley. Injuries have unfortunately limited the Raptors' efficacy in 2024-25, however, which has many questioning if a veteran could be moved by the deadline.
According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the Raptors are expected to hold on to at least one likely trade candidate, veteran center Jakob Poeltl, instead of moving him for younger players or draft capital.
"At his age and his number, I believe the sources I’ve talked with who predict he’s more likely to be part of the Raptors' bounce-back next season and beyond rather than dangled at the trade deadline for whatever combination of young talent and draft assets a rebuilding team might be hunting for."
It's an understandable approach to supporting a perimeter-heavy roster of up-and-coming players, but there's likely to be a market for Poeltl.
Raptors reportedly reluctant to trade center Jakob Poeltl
Toronto is currently 7-20 and desperately searching for a clean bill of health. Quickley has appeared in just three games this season, Barnes has missed 13 outings and rookie Ja'Kobe Walter has been sidelined for 14.
Barrett and Dick have looked the part of rising stars, with the former averaging 23.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, but wins have been tough to come by.
Typically, a team in this situation would be weighing its options on the trade front. The Raptors are, after all, 13 games under .500 and still unsure of when two of their starters will be able to return to the court, let alone play at the level expected of them.
Toronto is just four games back of a spot in the Play-In Tournament, however, and its lack of ideal interior depth has made Poeltl more valuable than the hypothetical return in a potential trade.
Refusing to trade Poeltl would result in the Raptors missing out on an opportunity to acquire an up-and-coming player or a potential first-round draft pick. Poeltl is one of just three players on the roster who's taller than 6'9", however, and he's proven to be an ideal fit with the current core.
At $19.5 million per season, the 29-year-old is also on a reasonable contract—one that ideally aligns with how many of Toronto's players are on rookie-scale deals.
Furthermore, for as promising as the 2025 NBA Draft appears to be, the Raptors have already loaded up on up-and-comers. They also own the rights to their 2025 first-round pick, which is on pace to yield top-four lottery odds.
Poeltl shouldn't be untouchable, but unless the Raptors are blown away by a trade offer, it'd be rational to hold onto the only reliable rim protector and interior stalwart they have.