The Toronto Raptors continue to navigate the Kevin Durant sweepstakes.
However, Toronto is reportedly unwilling to move Jakob Poeltl in any potential trade for Kevin Durant, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange:
“Multiple sources have confirmed to me that Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl would not be part of any deal — however unlikely a Raptors-Suns deal might be — centred around Durant. The Suns were asking for Poeltl at the trade deadline and got a firm ‘no’ back then, but that hasn’t stopped them from asking, apparently.”
Poeltl’s 19.5 million salary would be key in making a Durant deal work, but his value is a lot to give up in this scenario.
Grange said Toronto’s goal this summer is to “build a roster competitive enough to at least have a puncher’s chance at reaching the Conference Finals and beyond next season.” If that is the goal then Toronto will need to keep their only viable option at center in Poeltl. Grange did confirm the Raptors are monitoring the Durant marketplace.
However, a trade for Durant without including Poeltl seems unlikely. The Raptors could theoretically trade Brandon Ingram, but he can’t be traded until August and all arrows are pointing to the Suns wanting to get a deal done for Durant before next week’s draft.
Another way is if the Raptors include Scottie Barnes, but there’s no way Toronto would move off from Barnes for a 36-year-old Durant who’s on an expiring deal.
The last possibility is if the Raptors were to include RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, but they would need to get a third team involved for salary purposes.
Grange said “a more likely scenario is that the Raptors reach a contract extension with Poeltl sooner rather than later.”
It will be interesting to see how the Durant sweepstakes end, but don’t expect the Raptors to be the big winner.
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