Jakob Poeltl is a name that continues to pop up on the rumor mill ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
However, the Toronto Raptors have shown no urgency in moving him.
“I do think the Raptors are only going to trade him on their terms. They are under zero pressure to do so,” Marc Stein said told Blake Murphy on Sportsnet’s The Raptors Show. “There’s a need in the league for big men. So I would anticipate two things: that A) the Raptors would continue to be patient in the extreme and continue to tell teams no, and then [B)] if the offers get better, they’ll have a decision to make because the other thing is, the phone won’t stop ringing.”
Despite the Raptors being in a rebuild, it doesn’t appear that the team is willing to trade their starting center. If the Raptors want to have a bounce back season next year, they need a reliable big man. Poeltl makes the Raptors a better basketball team when he’s on the floor. Other veterans like Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher and potentially Davion Mitchell could be on the move at the deadline, as all three are expected to hit free agency this summer.
Meanwhile, Poeltl has multiple years left on his contract and if the Raptors do move on from him it would be difficult to try and replace him unless they acquired another center in a deal.
It is unknown which teams would be interested in pursuing Poeltl at this season’s trade deadline, but several contenders in the Western Conference are in need of frontcourt depth including the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. However, it may be tough for the Raptors to find a deal that’s worth making. The Raptors paid a steep price to acquire Poeltl, so they would likely want a haul for the 29-year-old.
Poeltl is playing the best basketball of his career as he is averaging a career-high 14.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 60.5 percent from the field. He’s a player to monitor over the next few weeks.
NBA insider shares latest trade update on Chris Boucher
Chris Boucher has been on a tear.
Marc Stein joined Sportsnet’s The Raptors Show and talked about Boucher’s trade status ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline:
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
