Jakob PoeltlPhoto: Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs have announced that the team has completed a trade with the Toronto Raptors, acquiring center Khem Birch, along with a 2024 first round draft pick and second round picks in 2023 and 2025, in exchange for center Jakob Poeltl.
Birch, 6-8/230, is in his sixth NBA season and holds career averages of 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds while playing 17.1 minutes per game in 282 total appearances. After attending training camp with the Miami Heat in 2014, the Canadian center spent three years playing in the G League, Turkey and Greece. He made his NBA debut in 2017 with the Orlando Magic, where he spent his first three-plus seasons before joining the Raptors in 2021. Birch will wear No. 92 for the Silver and Black.
Poeltl was acquired by the Spurs in a trade with the Raptors on June 18, 2018. In four-plus seasons with the Silver and Black, Poeltl appeared in 326 games, averaging 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.40 blocks in 22.9 minutes while shooting .622 (1,267-2,037) from the field. In the last two seasons, Poeltl started all but one of his 114 appearances, averaging 12.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27.8 minutes. The Austrian owns the Spurs franchise record for single-season field-goal percentage after shooting .645 (187-290) from the floor during the 2018-19 season.
Khem Birch Photo: Getty Images