Pöltl stays cool: despite injury and trade rumors in Toronto

Pöltl stays cool: despite injury and trade rumors in Toronto

The Austrian NBA star Jakob Pöltl currently has to take a break due to a hip injury and therefore missed yesterday's 106:103 win for his Toronto Raptors against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite his injury, Pöltl is the topic of conversation of the hour. There was always speculation about a possible trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. In an interview with the "Krone" Pöltl expressed himself calmly: "I don't need it for my ego. But of course interest from clubs is always a sign of appreciation," explained the 29-year-old.

How Raptors Nation reported that the Raptors are currently under no pressure to sell Pöltl as they are in a rebuilding phase. NBA insider Marc Stein explained that the Raptors would only negotiate if the offers meet expectations. “The teams will always call,” said Stein. Pöltl, who is showing impressive performance this season with 14.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, remains an indispensable part of the team. The Raptors will need a solid center to be competitive next season.

Pöltl can easily empathize with the situation of his former teammate Dennis Schröder, who had to change franchises several times within a short period of time. “As a player, you never want to be in a position like that,” admitted Pöltl. Still, he's calm about the reality of trades: "It's part of the game," he said. However, the Vienna native is happy with the Raptors and emphasized: “I’m glad that I’m still in Toronto.” While he recognizes the problems associated with trades, he would prefer to have more influence over his future, similar to football.