NBA Market in turmoil. Also on the move are the Toronto Raptors who perfect the return to Canada of Jakob Poeltl.
Not just maxi trades such as those that brought Kevin Durant to Phoenix and Russell Westbrook to leave the Lakers. The NBA market is also moving with other major trades.
Toronto Raptors bring Jakob Poeltl back to Canada, to the San Antonio Spurs go Khem Birch, a first-round pick in the next draft and two future second-round picks. The Spurs for Poeltl had also received an offer from the Boston Celtics including Gallinari, Pritchard and a pick but preferred the trade with the Canadiens.
Poelts thus returns to Toronto which had selected him in 2016 and shipped him to Texas along with DeRozan to allow the arrival of Kawhi Leonard. Interestingly, the trade was finalized just as Raptors and Spurs were facing each other on the hardwood (with Toronto winning 112-98). Possibly there was a meeting in the Air Canada Centre offices between the two managements to finalize the deal.
Poeltl will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, but the Canadian franchise is counting on being able to renew his contract and retain him, also because of the positive previous experience.
