INDIANAPOLIS — Let’s take a fast detour from what has was an exhilarating NBA Finals to one thing slightly extra particular to the Toronto Raptors: what’s happening with a former Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder star, who additionally received an MVP award with the group — Kevin Durant?
The reviews that the Raptors are monitoring his state of affairs are credible and make sense, given Toronto had conversations with the Suns again in February about the potential of a Durant commerce.
However to chop by means of a few of the smoke: a number of sources have confirmed to me that Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl wouldn’t be a part of any deal — nonetheless unlikely a Raptors-Suns deal is perhaps — centred round Durant. The Suns had been asking for Poeltl on the commerce deadline and received a agency ‘no’ again then, however that hasn’t stopped them from asking, apparently.
The easiest way to grasp any point out of Poeltl being in a commerce for Durant — or anybody else, however on this case with the Suns — is to acknowledge that Phoenix is making an attempt to drive up the worth. They need to recoup worth after buying and selling two high quality starters, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, together with 4 unprotected first-round picks, for simply over two seasons of Durant that yielded a second-round playoff exit, a first-round playoff exit, and no Play-In look this previous season.
If the Raptors are offered as having a powerful provide ready within the wings, maybe one in every of Durant’s most well-liked suitors steps up with one thing richer, or a group like Minnesota — one other group with curiosity that’s exterior Durant’s listing — sweetens the pot.
Toronto’s purpose this summer season is easy: construct a roster aggressive sufficient to no less than have a puncher’s probability at reaching the Convention Finals and past subsequent season. So sure, they’re monitoring the Durant market. At the same time as he’s about to show 37, Durant can elevate a group like few others, given he has averaged 26.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists whereas taking pictures 57 % on two-point makes an attempt and 42.1 % on threes throughout practically 139 video games.
However there’s no level in including a participant like Durant if the group round him can’t compete. As Poeltl has repeatedly proven since Toronto re-acquired him on the commerce deadline in 2023, the Raptors battle considerably when he doesn’t play.
A extra probably state of affairs is that the Raptors attain a contract extension with Poeltl sooner slightly than later, with the construction and timing designed to supply the membership flexibility as they construct out a aggressive roster.
Poeltl is eligible for a three-year, $88.2 million extension if he opts into the ultimate yr of his present deal, or a four-year, $121.8 million extension if he opts out and indicators a brand new contract beginning this season. Opting into the ultimate yr of his present $19.5 million deal would give the Raptors some extra cap flexibility for any acquisitions they could wish to pursue this summer season.
The Raptors want Poeltl to be aggressive in any state of affairs, and simply as importantly, Poeltl — coming off a profession yr at age 29 — needs to stay in Toronto for no matter turnaround lies forward, as he instructed me after we spoke in Orlando at season’s finish:
“I’ve purchased into this course of and I’ve sort of gone by means of the powerful occasions already,” he stated. “So that is my residence proper now, and I actually hope it’s going to be sooner or later as effectively.”
And with that, I’m off to OKC for Recreation 7.
