The Raptors are acquiring Spurs center Jakob Poeltl in exchange for center Khem Birch and a protected 2024 first-round draft pick, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Spurs will also receive two second-rounders in the deal, Wojnarowski added.
Poeltl, 27, is 7-foot-1 and spent his first two NBA seasons (2016-18) with the Raptors, before being a part of the trade for then-Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard.
The idea that the Raptors may be nearing a deal for Poeltl was first reported by Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
“The word circulating for the past several hours was that a Jakob Poeltl trade back Toronto was ‘close’ and it comes to fruition on the night before the trade deadline … and the night that San Antonio was in Toronto to play the Raptors,” Stein wrote.
Poeltl is averaging 12.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and shooting 62 percent from the field. He’s also blocking 1.2 shots a night, matching his career average. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, though Wojnarowski reported that the Raptors intend to sign him to a contract extension before then.
Birch, 30, has appeared in just 20 games and is averaging career-lows of 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds.
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
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