The Toronto Raptors traded away what turned out to be the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA draft to land Jakob Poeltl at the 2023 NBA trade deadline, but that win-now move has not led to them winning now. It will, however, lead to the San Antonio Spurs having another building block as Toronto is stuck in purgatory as a team that has sold off its main pieces (OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam) but is still another year away from getting the chance to draft a franchise-changing talent. Ipso facto, Boston Celtics reporter Brian Robb of MassLive labeled the trade "an absolute disaster" for Raptors president Masai Ujiri.
"...the transaction is an absolute disaster for Toronto and Masai Ujiri," Robb prefaced before saying, "The Raptors have morphed into a rebuilding squad after selling off OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam during a predictable down season. Meanwhile, the Raptors are paying the 28-year-old Poeltl $20 million a year through 2027 on a team that’s a ways away from being a factor in the East."
Uncomfortable questions need to be asked in the wake of that Poeltl trade. Since the Raptors won it all in 2019, they have had a highly unsuccessful run where they overpaid role players from that team while losing the guys who truly helped them hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time.
Ujiri earned the loyalty of the city with that championship, but it goes without saying that patience is running thin.
Boston Celtics dodged a bullet by not landing Jakob Poeltl at 2023 trade deadline
Good thing the Celtics didn't land Poeltl, which was a longstanding rumor until the big man ended up a Raptor. Boston offered a package of Payton Pritchard, as well as Danilo Gallinari and draft compensation that'd later be used in trades for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
It goes without saying that the 2023-24 Cs roster wouldn't be what it is today had they made such a minimally needle-moving transaction when they had the chance.
Bullet dodged.