Report: Raptors Won’t Trade Jakob Poeltl To Get Kevin Durant From Suns

According to NBA insider Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, the Toronto Raptors won’t trade Jakob Poeltl to get Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. 

Durant, 36, has one year left on his contract. He turns 37 in September. 

“But to cut through some of the smoke: multiple sources have confirmed to me that Raptors center Jakob Poeltl would not be part of any deal — however unlikely a Raptors-Suns deal might be — centred around Durant,” Grange wrote. “The Suns were asking for Poeltl at the trade deadline and got a firm ‘no’ back then, but that hasn’t stopped them from asking, apparently.

“The best way to understand any mention of Poeltl being in a trade for Durant — or anyone else, but in this case with the Suns — is to recognize that Phoenix is trying to drive up the price. They are looking to recoup value after trading two quality starters, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, along with four unprotected first-round picks, for just over two seasons of Durant that yielded a second-round playoff exit, a first-round playoff exit, and no Play-In appearance this past season.”

Poeltl and the Raptors can agree to an extension this offseason. The big man will make $19,500,000 next season. He averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 57 games this campaign while shooting 62.7% from the field. 

The Raptors and Suns missed the playoffs this year. Phoenix fired Mike Budenholzer as head coach after one season and hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott. 

Durant wants to get traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets or Miami Heat. The Suns can trade the NBA legend anywhere since Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. 

The Suns have spoken to the Spurs, Rockets, Heat, Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves about a Durant trade. KD is expected to get traded before the 2025 NBA Draft. 

A future Hall of Famer, Durant played in 62 games for Phoenix this season. He averaged 26.6 points while shooting 52.7% from the floor, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the foul line.