In a move that seemed like an overpay to some, the Toronto Raptors traded a first-round draft choice to the San Antonio Spurs to acquire center Jakob Poeltl, who Toronto initially flipped away to the Spurs in order to acquire Kawhi Leonard. The re-acquisition played a big role in fixing Toronto’s lackluster interior defense.
Poeltl hit free agency soon after, looking to cash in after a solid season on both ends of the floor. Masai Ujiri, who has said that he believes Poeltl is one of the ten best centers in the NBA, paid him like a franchise cornerstone with a very solid contract that satisfies both parties.