Raptors ink Jakob Poeltl to 4-year deal worth $80 million

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It took about 45 minutes into a frenzied first hour of NBA free agency and the first question about the Raptors future was answered.

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Jakob Poeltl, the man they gave up a protected first round pick for at last year’s trade deadline, would be remaining with the team that originally drafted him.

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Poeltl will be well-compensated to remain in Toronto, agreeing to a four-year deal worth $80 million with a player option in the fourth year.

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The four years could allow the Raptors to back-end a larger portion of the contract which would help keeping them out of the luxury tax.

The other shoe to drop is if Fred VanVleet will also be back and if so at how much.

VanVleet is expected to pull in a minimum of $30 million a year if he does return. That number could be much higher if the reported two-year deal for $80 million with the Houston Rockets is actually on the table.

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Even at the minimum $30 million, the Raptors would still have to make some moves elsewhere on the roster to remain under the taxpayer threshold.

Poeltl is only 27 and still very much getting to the prime of his career. At an average of $20 million a year, it’s a good chunk of change but one the Raptors were always going to spend having given up assets in the trade to bring him back.

There was talk that the San Antonio Spurs, the team he played four years with before returning to Toronto at the deadline, might be interested in bringing him back.

The Spurs have a shiny new penny in No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, and surrounding him with good veterans would seem to be a good idea.

The money, though, might have scared the Spurs off.

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Poeltl made an immediate impact with the Raptors when he arrived, playing 26 games and averaging 13.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and perhaps most important of all some much-needed rim protection.

The Raptors reportedly met with VanVleet in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Poeltl signing, given his history and good relationship with VanVleet, should work in the Raptors’ favour as they try to bring the guard back into the fold.

The only other news involving the Raptors in the first hour of free agency involved Rexdale native Dalano Banton, who reportedly met with the Boston Celtics Friday.

Banton became an unrestricted free agent when the Raptors declined to extend him a qualifying offer Thursday night.

He played in 31 games with the Raptors last season, which was marred by injuries. The majority of his season was spent with the Raptors 905.

Banton was a second-round selection by the Raptors in the 2021 draft.

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