Raptors Pursue Domantas Sabonis, Jakob Poeltl Roadblock

Merlin sees Toronto as a "serious suitor" for Sacramento star Domantas Sabonis, but cap math is the dragon in the room. The Raptors would need Jakob Poeltl moved by Feb. 5 to create space, yet the Kings "have made it clear that they aren't willing to take on" Poeltl's long contract. Without Poeltl heading elsewhere, the pursuit will likely wait until the offseason. With Sacramento sitting near the bottom of the West and Zach LaVine "not expected" to be traded, the Kings lack urgency to flip the roster now. Toronto would have to include multiple pieces to match Sabonis' salary, making a midseason swap messy. Merlin senses this as a patient chess match that will probably be decided in summer cap wheels rather than a sudden February splash.