The Toronto Raptors are a popularly rumored target for a Kevin Durant trade.
But there’s reportedly one guy they don’t want to give up in order to get KD, and it might not be who you’re expecting.
The Raptors refuse to deal center Jakob Poeltl, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.
Grange went on to report that at the trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns asked for Poeltl, but the Raptors told them no. And it sounds like nothing has changed.
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Toronto really has no one to replace Poeltl.
In 2024-25, the 29-year old big fella averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He shot 62.7% from the floor.
Poeltl contributes all over the floor, adding averages of 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, too.
HoopsRumors.com points out that the Raptors don’t need Poeltl’s salary to get a Durant deal done. They write that Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickly and RJ Barrett have sizable enough contracts to help match salaries in a Durant trade.
Clearly, Scottie Barnes wouldn’t be available. And it sounds like he’ll at the very least have Poeltl as his teammate next season, too. Now it’s a wait to see if the other guys are enough to get a KD trade done.
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