The Clippers’ post-scandal reality has opened the door to all kinds of roster reshuffling, and one name now linked to them is Raptors center Jakob Poeltl.
Los Angeles, after losing five first-round picks and Kawhi Leonard, is in a spot where it may need to chase draft capital any way it can. That has led to the idea of taking on contracts other teams would like to move, with insider Jeremy Brener pointing to Poeltl as one possible target. In that scenario, the Clippers would likely receive at least one pick as part of the return.
“It would be in the Clippers’ best interest to recoup as much draft capital as possible, which could allow them to take on bad contracts while they approach a rebuilding phase. This could include Jakob Poeltl, whose three-year, $84 million extension kicks in next season when he turns 32 years old,” Brener wrote.
The appeal for Toronto is straightforward: Poeltl’s contract is big, and the Raptors could use the flexibility that comes with moving it. The source material describes his four-year, $104 million deal as a major overpay for his level of production, especially with his injury history - he has only one season with at least 80 games played. At 30, he is not expected to turn into a star, and the fit on a win-now team alongside Kawhi Leonard is still uncertain.
That uncertainty is why a trade has some logic from the Raptors’ side. If they attach a pick to Poeltl, they can make the deal more attractive, create more interest around him, and begin searching for a better fit in the middle. For the Clippers, the payoff would be extra draft capital in exchange for absorbing a contract the Raptors would rather move.
There is also at least some basketball upside to consider. Poeltl averaged 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 70.0% last season, numbers that suggest he can still help in the right role.
The source also notes that with Ivica Zubac now with the Pacers, the Clippers do not have a better alternative at center, which could make Poeltl more useful than the contract alone suggests. If things went that way, he could even be flipped later for more assets once he is closer to the end of the deal.
For now, it remains just a possibility. There is no indication a Poeltl move is actually in motion, but the Clippers’ current position means they can afford to consider almost anything. If a starting-caliber center and a future pick are on the table, the logic from both sides is clear enough.
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