Raptors Keep OG Anunoby, Bring Back Jakob Poeltl on Deadline Day

The Toronto Raptors avoided a major shakeup at the 2023 NBA trade deadline, opting to stand pat on the potential of selling, while bringing back a familiar face in the process.

With multiple suitors in the running for star forward OG Anunoby, Toronto chose to hold its cards tight and carry on in its same sub-.500 ways with Anunoby on its roster – at least through the 2022-23 season.

According to multiple reports, upwards of eight or nine teams had expressed interest in the 25-year-old, with the Grizzlies, Pacers, Lakers, Warriors, and Nets in the forefront. ESPN actually reported on Thursday evening that both the Grizzles and Pacers sent multi-pick trade proposals to Raptors’ GM Masai Ujiri, but were quickly turned down.

“Why it didn’t happen? The opportunity was not there for us for a blockbuster trade,” Ujiri responded when asked about his team’s lack to movement on Thursday. “The way I look at the deadline, it’s really not a great place to make long-term decisions … in terms of some of the things we were getting.”

The going price on the stud shooter was made known to be a star prospect, a current position player, and three first-round picks. Both the Grizzlies’, Pelicans’, and Pacers’ offers were shut down despite including the reported three first-rounders.

“It is what it is,” Anunoby said in advance of the deadline, following rumours of his demise and constant trade talk. “No, it doesn’t bother me. What can I do about it? I didn’t tell anyone to do that story or say whatever. It’s not my choice for whatever is going on to be going on. I can’t control it, so what’s the point of being mad about it?

Having played 45 games this year, Anunoby has averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 2 assists, and .8 blocks per game. He is shooting roughly 45 percent from the field, while his defensive game stepped up yet another rung on the ladder in 2022-23.

The Raptors are on the hook for Anunoby‘s salary through the 2023-24 season, unless he exercises his $19.9 million player option through 2024-25. He would be an unrestricted free agent following his current deal.

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With Toronto having a disappointing season, the list of potential trade candidates extended from Pascal Siakam to Fred VanVleet, all the way down the lineup through Gary Trent Jr. and Anunoby. But in the end, it was all just the sound of whispering pines of Canada’s great white north.

What the Raptors did do, however, was bring back big centre Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round selection, and two second-round picks. Interestingly, Poeltl was one of the key pieces going to San Antonio (along with DeMar DeRozan) as a part of the return package in the Kawhi Leonard trade. He was drafted ninth overall by Toronto in the 2016 NBA Draft, before spending the first two years of his career playing in Ontario.

“On this team, I hadn’t done my part maybe for this team to maybe play a little bit better. I think we needed a big like Jak,” Ujiri said.

Despite struggling to stay healthy, Poeltl does provide Toronto with some familiarity and chemistry with Siakam, VanVleet and Nick Nurse’s gameplay and strategy. The 7-foot-1 centre will help the team defensively – along with that of Anunoby’s prowess – while his offensive contributions remain minimal.

He averages 12 points, nine rebounds and one block per game this season, while starting all 46 games he’s played in. Poeltl is shooting nearly 62 percent from the field, while having put up 20 points on six different occasions and has recorded 11 double-doubles. His season-best in points is 31 (November 15), and rebound is 16 (January 6).

The Vienna, Austria product is in the final year of his current $9.4 million contract, and will become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Running the risk of Poeltl leaving via free agency, Ujiri did give away quite a lot to up his centre position, but managed to dodge the ‘multiple’ first round picks as previously demanded by the Spurs’ management in return for the 27-year-old.

With VanVleet and Trent Jr. both having player options for 2023-24, the move to trade draft capital while bringing in some immediate size and help around the basket does indicate that Ujiri and Co. are hoping to remain a competitive squad in the near future, while retaining their current stars.

“I believe in these guys,” Ujiri added. “We believe in them. We think growth sometimes takes a while… Hopefully we can have a little bit of patience.”

Currently sitting at 26-30, the Raptors are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, which would seed them in the final play-in tournament spot should they finish the season where they are now. The Raptors take on the Utah Jazz at 6:30 PM central time on Friday in their first game post-deadline.