ICYMI: Raptors In On "Burgeoning Trade Market" For This Big Man

“I’ve never been in this situation where unrestricted free agency is coming up. It’s a cool situation." That's the word from 'entering-his-prime' San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl. And it's something that the Spurs need to take into consideration as we approach the trade deadline. 

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Poeltl has a "burgeoning trade market" and the Toronto Raptors are right in the middle of it. 

The Raptors, sources told Yahoo Sports, have circled Poeltl seemingly ever since sending him South and continue to be mentioned by league personnel as a potential suitor on this burgeoning trade market.

Masai Ujiri famously sent Poeltl along with DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs in the summer of 2018 for Kawhi Leonard. And although that trade obviously worked out tremendously for the Raptors in a 2019 Championship, they would love to have the big 27-year-old Austrian back. 

Toronto has been searching for a true center ever since Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka left. 

As for the Spurs, they'll need to make a decision on Poeltl before the Feb. 9th trade deadline. There have been rumblings that they'd like to keep him, but he will not come cheaply, and he might not fit their timeline with the youngsters Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson. 

As Poeltl says about his impending free agency, "it’s nice to be in this situation where you can kind of decide your own fate and evaluate what’s going to be the best situation for me.”

Poeltl is averaging 12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and shooting 64% from the field.

Photo: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports