The Toronto Raptors are the latest in a long line of franchises to be spectulatively linked to Anthony Davis. The Washington Wizards big man is commonly referenced as a potential trade target for teams given his generational two-way ability and the injury history that has dampened his market value.
Though Davis' injury history offers reason to avoid him at all costs, the proposed trade would give the Raptors a way out of Jakob Poeltl's nightmare contract that has four years and more than $103 million left on it—and is therefore worth the risk.
Davis, 33, has yet to play a game for the Wizards. As such, any conversation about a trade that centers around him must be taken with a grain of salt. Washington could, after all, decide that its best option is to keep him on the roster. One simply can't help but note that trading Poeltl, who has his own injury concerns and a lower level of play than Davis' when healthy, must be a top priority.
On a recent episode of The Third Apron, however, Yossi Gozlan and Sam Quinn discussed the possibility of a Davis-to-Toronto trade—acknowledging the financial hurdles.
For those who can't acess the video at this time, Quinn proposed the following:
"The Raptors for [Jakob] Poeltl and [RJ] Barrett and picks...you'd have to add in more salary and that gets a little tougher. I do think the Raptors are going to be an interesting trade team. Becauise by virtue of going for Kawhi, you're not all the way in, but you are stating your intent that you're trying to win the championship this season so that does make it possible that you're willing to give up the rest of your draft capital."
Quinn directly acknowledges the financial hurdles in making this deal align, but the primary elements of this trade are simple: Davis and his injury history for RJ Barrett, Poeltl, and draft compensation.
Anthony Davis' injury history isn't as bad as Jakob Poeltl's contract
Barrett has an expiring contract, which could create flexibility on its own. Trading him for a player whose availability is a question mark is thus a risky endeavor. It's Poeltl and Davis' own financial situations, however, that make this worth considering.
Poeltl is owed $19.5 million for the 2026-27 season and will then have his three-year, $84,084,000 extension take hold in 2027-28—and Toronto can't allow itself to endure that financial burden.
Poeltl, who will turn 31 in October, has missed at least 25 games in each of the past three seasons. He also played just 19.1 minutes per game during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Suffice it to say, that simply isn't enough to justify an annual salary exceeding $28 million per season.
In an NBA where the second apron is almost as important as the talent a team can put on the court, the Raptors would run the risk of slamming the Scottie Barnes window shut if he spends the rest of his 20s with Poeltl's contract limiting Toronto's ability to add talent.
Though Davis mirrors Poeltl's injury concerns, he at least still plays at an All-NBA level when he's healthy and carries far less financial risk from a long-term perspective.
Offloading Jakob Poeltl would make the AD injury risks worth it
Davis is owed a colossal $58,456,566 for the 2026-27 campaign and has a $62,786,682 player option for the 2027-28 season. Even if one rules out the possibility of him declining the option in favor of a long-term deal next summer, that's only two years of financial obligation compared to four with Poeltl.
In other words: The Raptors would shed Davis' contract no later than 2028, while Poeltl would still have two years and roughly $56 million left on his deal.
Yes, Davis' injury history is extensive and concerning. And yes, Kawhi Leonard has the same issue. Together, there's a serious possibility that Toronto would be at the mercy of two stars in their mid-to-late 30s and the possibility of them missing considerable time every season.
Considering how difficult Poeltl's contract will be to move, it's simply worth the risk. If healthy, the Raptors would have an elite trio in Barnes, Davis, and Leonard—all of whom excel on both ends of the floor. If not, they could at least explore avenues to trading Davis' expiring deal in 2027-28 and drop it entirely the following summer if nothing materializes.
It's by no means an easy potential transaction to stomach, but two years of Davis would be easier to either overcome or capitalize on than four years of Poeltl.
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