Report: Jakob Poeltl Expected to Re-Sign with Raptors for $20 Million Annually

The Toronto Raptors are expected to re-sign Jakob Poeltl for $20 million annually when free agency opens

All Raptors Staff | Jun 28, 2023

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Toronto Raptors

Jakob Poeltl isn’t going to come cheap this summer, but all indications are he’ll be back with the Toronto Raptors next season.

The 27-year-old center is expected to re-sign with Toronto for roughly $20 million annually, per Substack’s Marc Stein. It’s believed he’ll be back with the Raptors regardless of Fred VanVleet’s future with the team.

Toronto acquired Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs at the trade deadline for a package headlined by a 2024 top-six protected first-round pick. The Raptors have repeatedly made it clear that they’re planning to bring back Poeltl this summer and Poeltl believed that to be the case during the year.

There had, however, been reporting from ESPN suggesting Poeltl would not be interested in returning to a rebuilding situation. The Raptors have so far not shown any indication they’re heading in that direction but it’s possible that could change if VanVleet walks.

Toronto does need to be careful with how much it pays Poeltl this summer as the organization is expected to be awfully close to the $165 million luxury tax threshold for next season. Ideally for the Raptors, Poeltl’s contract will come in at less than $20 million in his first season, creating added flexibility to re-sign VanVleet.

Poeltl has been connected to the Spurs as a potential landing spot should he not re-sign in Toronto, per Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.

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