The Raptors and free agent center Jacob Boltel have agreed a four-year, $80 million deal to stay in Toronto, according to ESPN. Here’s what you need to know:
- Poeltle, 27, averaged 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in 26 games with the Raptors last season after his acquisition in a deal with the Spurs.
- A noted edge protector, Poeltl averaged 1.3 blocks per game in his seven-year career.
- The Raptors, who went 42-40 in 2022-23, went 15-11 with Poeltl.
the athleteInstant Analysis:
Was this expected?
Once the Raptors acquire Poeltl at the February trade deadline, you can start to wonder what a fair contract would look like for him to stay in Toronto. He was acquired to be the rim and barrel protector because the Raptors core was missing, and the Raptors were exponentially better, especially on defense, with his presence on the ground. Nikola Vucevic’s $60 million, three-year deal has created the market for centers that are above average but not quite all-star. Since the Raptors gave up a first-round pick for him, it stands to reason that they paid a little extra, in the form of a player option, to secure the deal. – grow up
How will it affect the rest of the season for the Raptors?
The Raptors are hoping to keep Fred VanVleet in Toronto, too. Giving Poeltl a fourth year allows the Raptors to award the position a starting salary of about $17.76 million, which will be key as the Raptors try to stay below the luxury tax threshold. The Raptors could give VanVleet a starting salary of around $24 million and stay just under tax, but it’s likely that, if they keep him, they’ll have to transfer another player under a guaranteed contract.
In addition, the Raptors will likely continue to weigh the pros and cons of trading either Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby, since committing to their entire core long-term would be too expensive for a group that hasn’t won a playoff series. – grow up
the background
Poeltl was originally selected by Toronto 9th overall in the 2016 NBA draft before being traded to San Antonio in the deal that netted Raptors Kawhi Leonard in 2018.
The seven-foot-one signed a three-year, $26.2 million deal with San Antonio in 2020.
required reading
(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)