SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs have agreed to trade center Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for center Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first round pick and two future second rounders, the team said Thursday.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and others are reporting that the Raptors are bringing back the center they originally drafted and ultimately traded for Kawhi Leonard, with the intention of signing Poeltl to a new contract this summer.
The Spurs acquired Poeltl back in 2018, along with guard Demar DeRozan and a first round pick and since then he’s become one of the better defensive centers in the league.
The Toronto Raptors are acquiring San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl for Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round draft pick and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/9Iz7KFCd20
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
This season, Poeltl is averaging 12.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26 minutes per game. He, however, doesn’t fit the timeline of the Spurs’ present rebuild.
Burch, the center the Spurs get back in the trade, is in his sixth NBA season and has played in just 20 games thus far, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds. He’s also previously played for the Orlando Magic.
Later in the day, the Spurs traded Josh Richardson to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Devonte’ Graham and four second-round picks.
Also on Thursday, the Spurs waived Dewayne Dedmon, who they had acquired two days ago in a trade with the Miami Heat.
Toronto beat San Antonio 112-98 on Wednesday night, handing the struggling Spurs their 10th consecutive loss.