The Praptan interest in Kevin Durant and continue to the market for the Suns star, but they would not be prepared to include the starting center Jacob Poeltl In an offer for durant, reports Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.

Several sources confirmed to Grange that Poell would not be part of any trade that makes the raptors for Durant. According to Grange, when Phoenix and Toronto talked about Durant before the February deadline, the Suns asked Poell and a ‘firm’ no. Received from the raptors. The attitude has not changed since then.

While there were rumor This month about the birds of prey that are open to putting pool in the table, Grange suggests that the leaks are probably designed to increase the bids of other sugars for Durant as the Suns want to maximize their return.

As Grange pointed out, the Raptors have been struggling to compete in 2023 in 2023, if he is not available. In 2024/25, for example, the club had a net rating of -0.7 during Poelt’s 1.686 minutes of action, compared to a -6.2 point in the 2.275 minutes he did not play. The gap between Toronto’s net rating with Poeltl on and out of court was even more extreme in ’23/24.

Poell, 29, achieved new career heights of 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game over 57 outings last season, making 62.7% of his shots of the field and also contributed 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 stalks per night.

Since the raptors are looking for a timetable that can win in 2025/26, Poell trade would be against the goal and leave them with a significant hole to fill in the waist. The more likely scenario, writes Grange, is that Toronto works out a contract extension with the big man at some point before next season.

Poell was owed $ 19.5 mm in 2025/26, with a $ 19.5 mm player option for ’26/27. His maximum expansion would be worth up to about $ 122 million over four years if he refused the option as part of an agreement, or up to about $ 88 million over three years if he picked up the option and started the new agreement in 2027.

The birds of prey still have a handful of substantial contracts that belong to Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickleyand Rj barrett It can be used in a Durant agreement for salary purposes. However, any combination of the two players would have a higher joint hit next season than Durant, which would complicate negotiations, as the Suns above the second work Tax apron. They can not take back salary than they send or combine multiple salaries for players, as long as they stay on the second-apon area.