Raptors sign center Jakob Poeltl to a 4-year contact extension

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors signed center Jakob Poeltl to a four-year contract extension on Tuesday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 29-year-old from Austria averaged a career-best 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds, along with 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in 57 regular-season games for Toronto (30-52) last season. He also shot 62.7% from the field, which ranked fifth in the league among qualified players.

“Jakob has developed into one of the league’s top two-way centers and signing him to an extension was a top priority this offseason. As valuable as he is on the floor, we also really appreciate his leadership and experience off court,” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said. “

Poeltl was the ninth overall pick by the Raptors in the 2016 NBA draft. He was traded to San Antonio with DeMar DeRozan in the Kawhi Leonard deal in 2018. Poeltl was traded back to the Raptors in 2023 and signed to a four-year, $78 million contract.

“Toronto has always felt like home for me — I want to be a Raptor for life,” Poeltl said in a statement. “Thanks to (general manager Bobby Webster) and team ownership for believing in me, and to the fans for their amazing support.

“We have a young core that’s full of potential and I believe we’re ready to take the next step.”

The 7-foot, 245-pound Poeltl has averaged 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 595 career NBA games.

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