NBA Rumors: Raptors & Spurs In Trade Talks

The names have been on the trade circuit for a while now. Both of them are impending free agents, and now the latest rumor has San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl and Toronto Raptors wing Gary Trent Jr. being discussed in the same deal.

A rumored trade centered around Gary Trent Jr. and draft compensation for Jakob Poeltl has been floating around in league circles, per @TheSteinLine

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— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 8, 2023

According to NBA Insider Marc Stein:

There were some fresh rumbles this week that it had explored packaging Trent and some level of draft compensation to San Antonio for Spurs center Jakob Poeltl. That's a move you would make to try to move up the Eastern Conference ladder — not down. The Raptors, for the record, don’t seem to mind the confusion they’re generating.

The Raptors have been wanting a reunion with the big Austrian for some time now. He was developed in the Toronto system, but sent to the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard trade of 2018. Certainly, the Raptors are not regretting that move in any way, but they'd like to bring Poeltl back. 

The 27-year-old will be a free agent after the season; he's averaging 12.1 points and 9.1 rebounds and has been a strong rim protector in his years in San Antonio, though his defensive rating has slipped quite a bit this season. 

Trent is a reliable three-point shooter and perimeter scorer who can create his own shot. He's averaging a career-high 18.7 points while shooting 37.3% from distance.

Photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports