It’s a longshot at this point for the Toronto Raptors to earn one of the top six spots in the Eastern Conference standings at this point but they remain in the mix for the play-in tournament. They could benefit from making an upgrade at the NBA trade deadline to maximize those chances.
One of the glaring weaknesses the Raptors hold at the moment is the center position. Toronto has relied upon Precious Achiuwa significantly and the results have been abysmal. It’s clear there’s a real upgrade that is needed to be made at some point.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Toronto Raptors have held trade interest in Myles Turner and are ‘searching for frontcourt reinforcements’ and have called the San Antonio Spurs about Jakob Poeltl.
In addition to Toronto’s aforementioned interest in Myles Turner, the Raptors are said to be searching for frontcourt reinforcements. They’ve indeed called San Antonio regarding Jakob Poeltl, as first noted by Marc Stein, but the Spurs have fielded numerous calls on the 26-year-old center and are seeking a strong return in any deal.
There’s been a variety of different names that have been linked to the Raptors at times. Among them has been Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers, who our own Evan Massey has reported on recently. Of course, the stress reaction in Turner’s foot complicates that option.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Raptors Discussed Siakam For Sabonis Trade With Pacers
If the thought of pursuing a trade for Myles Turner is essentially on-pause right now, there are some other intriguing options for the team to give consideration. Something to keep in mind, there was also reporting from Fischer about a Sabonis-Pascal Siakam swap being discussed at one point, but those talks stalled.
There was discussions regarding a Sabonis-Pascal Siakam swap, but those negotiations stalled, sources said. The Raptors were closely monitoring Andre Drummond’s situation in Cleveland prior to last season’s deadline, and were lurking in the background of Jarrett Allen’s free agency last summer.
The Raptors seem intent on making a major upgrade at the center position. If they were willing to part with Pascal Siakam in order to make that happen, the options could open up significantly. It seemed as though they were open, but didn’t quite like what they had available to them with the Pacers for Sabonis.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Raptors Discussed Siakam For Sabonis Trade With Pacers
Even if the Toronto Raptors do not end up getting a deal done for a center ahead of the NBA trade deadline, there will be plenty of options in the offseason for them to pursue.
