Kofi Inkoom
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has proposed that the Toronto Raptors trade Jakob Poeltl for the New Orleans Pelicans’ young guard Jordan Hawkins this summer, despite the Raptors investing significantly to acquire and retain Poeltl.
The proposed trade entails:
Raptors receiving Hawkins and a lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick, while the Pelicans would acquire Poeltl.
The Raptors, who missed the playoffs this season, seem to be considering future prospects, as indicated by their previous trades involving Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
Buckley points out the Raptors’ recent acquisitions of big men Poeltl and Kelly Olynyk, questioning the necessity for both, especially if they aim to draft a big man with the No. 1 pick, like Alexandre Sarr or Donovan Clingan.
“While the Raptors largely looked toward the future with their trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, they also parted with a first-round pick to add a big man at each of the last two deadlines: first Poeltl, then Kelly Olynyk” Buckley wrote “It’s hard to tell why Toronto felt it needed both bigs, but it wouldn’t need two veteran centers if it landed the No. 1 pick and wanted to spend it on a big man such as Alexandre Sarr or Donovan Clingan”
Buckley suggests that the Pelicans might prefer Poeltl over Jonas Valančiūnas due to his agility and defensive prowess. He argues that the Raptors, particularly with Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett as cornerstones, would benefit from Hawkins’ shooting abilities.
“The Pelicans could part with free agent Jonas Valančiūnas this offseason and might view Poeltl as a better fit since he’s lighter on his feet and stingier around the rim. If they see him as enough of an upgrade to give up both Hawkins (last year’s No. 14 pick) and a lottery-protected future first, the Raptors should be all over it” Buckley added.
Despite Poeltl’s value to the Raptors, Buckley believes his contract could become burdensome in the future, especially with the emergence of young centers in the league. Also, the Raptors acquiring a young shooter like Hawkins and an additional first-round pick would be advantageous for them.
“As long as they’re building around Scottie Barnes—and, to a lesser extent, RJ Barrett—they’ll need all the shooting they can get. Hawkins flashed plenty of flame-throwing potential as a freshman, converting 109 long-range looks at a 36.6 percent clip.” Buckley added.
This trade scenario aligns with the Raptors’ potential future core, featuring Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Hawkins, Gradey Dick, Barnes, and potentially Sarr or Clingan.
Hawkins had an outstanding rookie season with New Orleans, appearing in 67 games for the Pelicans. He averaged 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 38.2% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc, and 83.8% from the free-throw line