NBA Rumors: Jakob Poeltl Trade Interest 'Resisted' by Raptors Amid Olynyk, Brown Buzz

The Toronto Raptors have "resisted" opposing teams' interest in starting center Jakob Poeltl, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein noted that there has been "mounting" interest in Poeltl from other front offices, but Toronto doesn't appear to be committed to moving him. The Raptors are reportedly "open" to trading backup center Kelly Olynyk and guard Bruce Brown prior to the Feb. 6 deadline, though.

With Toronto owning the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 8-27, team president Masai Ujiri could approach the deadline with a goal of offloading veterans for future assets and building towards next season.

NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that the Raptors have also made 31-year-old forward Chris Boucher available in trades.

Poeltl has started the 2024-25 season strong, averaging a career-high 15.4 points while his 10.7 rebounds per game rank No. 8 among all players. He's also recording 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks each night, shooting 60.4 percent from the field.

The 29-year-old doesn't fit the exact timeline of a young Raptors team, but his ability to remain effective without needing the ball in his hands makes life easier for teammates such as Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick and RJ Barrett.

In fact, Poeltl's average of 4.7 screen assists per game is the second-highest mark in the association behind Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis (via NBA.com).

He's set to earn $19.5 million for both the 2024-25 season and 2025-26 season before he'll need to make a decision on another $19.5 million player option that can keep him in Toronto until the 2027 offseason.

Brown is set to enter unrestricted free agency at the end of the year while Olynyk is only signed through the 2025-26 season, so the Raptors could move both players instead of watching them potentially leave as free agents.

Toronto's desire to move Poeltl could change as the deadline draws closer, but the team doesn't appear to be willing to discuss trades involving him as of now.