Raptors acquire Poeltl from Spurs

A familiar face returns to Toronto.

The Raptors announced the acquisition of center Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs, sending back Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round draft pick, and second-round picks in 2023 and 2025 in the trade.

Toronto dealt Poeltl in the Kawhi Leonard trade during the 2018 offseason and intends to sign the 27-year-old to a new contract in the offseason, Wojnarowski adds.

Poeltl is in the final season of a three-year, $26.2-million contract. The Raptors inherited his bird rights, allowing the franchise to go over the salary cap to re-sign him, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

The Austrian center has averaged 12.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks for the Spurs this campaign.

The two franchises also struck a deal last trade deadline that sent Goran Dragic and a first-round pick to San Antonio for a package including veteran big man Thaddeus Young.

The Raptors selected Poeltl ninth overall in the 2016 draft after he spent two seasons with Utah.