Three-and-a-half years after they traded Jakob Poeltl to the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster, the Raptors are said to be interested in reacquiring the veteran center, according to Marc Stein, who adds that Toronto has been exploring upgrades at the center position “for some time.”
Poeltl, 26, is enjoying a career year so far in San Antonio, establishing new career highs in PPG (12.4), RPG (8.8), and APG (2.7) through 34 games (28.6 MPG). He’s in the second season of a team-friendly three-year contract that will pay him $8.75MM this season and $9.4MM in 2021/22.
The Raptors likely don’t have any regrets about moving Poeltl in 2018, considering that trade helped buoy the franchise to its first-ever championship. However, the team has struggled to find reliable options at center since the departures of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in 2020.
The idea of adding Poeltl as a rim protector to complement talented, rangy defenders like Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam is an intriguing one. Poeltl could also be a good fit on offense as a rim-running pick-and-roll partner for Fred VanVleet.
Still, it’s unclear how motivated the Spurs would be to move Poeltl or what they’d want in return. San Antonio already has more talent and depth in its backcourt than its frontcourt, so the team may be reluctant to part with its starting center. If the Spurs are open to offers, Toronto could theoretically attach second-year big man Precious Achiuwa and/or draft assets to Chris Boucher‘s expiring $7MM contract.
Three team deal:
Raptors: Jakob Poetl and a 2nd round pick-Spurs
Spurs: James Wiseman
GSW: Chris Boucher, Jock Landale and future 1st-Raptors
Raptors get their man. Spurs get a younger centre with a higher ceiling that pop can develop. GSW gets some more win now pieces and picks for the future.
Raptors lose Boucher who is on an expiring deal and a future first but also get back a second rounder. Spurs on top of Poetl, they lose Landale and a second round pick.
Dubs can literally get Collins or Turner if they were willing to let go of Wiseman. They turned down both those trade proposals in the offseason because they believe Wise is the future and now you think they will trade him for a couple of role players who won’t play more than 10-15 mins a game tops? Good one lol
Spurs would probably just cut out Raps and do a framework around Jakob and Wiseman instead of this scenario
Wiseman is the new Sam Bowie/Greg Oden, he has value but he needs to actually play before he can be traded as a huge potential piece…but I’m sayin he’s a bust who has a worse career than Patrick Williams, pure speculation
Sam Bowie/Greg Oden had injuries that predated their days in the NBA. So, your comparison is way off. Half the reason he hasn’t played is because he is getting a lot of specialized coaching. They don’t want to make the same mistakes they made last season.
The Warriors changed their coaching staff to accommodate the development of Wiseman, Kuminga, and Moody. So you are basically saying the Warriors should throw in the towel and blow it all up. That is not a win now strategy.
Okay fair I’ll take the L on this one
The problem is Wiseman is a mystery, the warriors should put any trade on hold until they see what they really got when he plays a full season, or a least something like 60 games
I’ll tell you what Wiseman is, he’s not very good. I’m surprised to see how highly the general public seems to value James. He has tools, sure, but he is so raw in terms of thinking the game and understanding basketball. His lack of in game experience at the college level is really rearing its ugly head. I wouldn’t view Wiseman as anything more than a supremely raw, talented big man, with maybe a 10% chance of fulfilling his potential.
So, you are saying that Wiseman hasn’t gotten enough coaching to draw that potential out of him. Hmmm…One of the off season hires the Warriors made was a coach known for developing big men.
Agree with this take. Warrior fan like any home team definitely overrates their own prospects, but it’s true his youth and tools remain very promising.
That’s the worst trade I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Lol
Raps are not giving up a first and Boucher for Poeltl lol
Jakob wouldn’t come cheap that’s for sure. One of the leagues best centers on an insanely good deal.
He’s one of the league’s best defensive centers who cannot shoot and is very limited offensively. So I wouldn’t call him one of the best overall. But the deal he’s on is very solid.
Not sure I’d even go that far. He’s average, but not one of the best defensive centers. The deal he’s on is good, but he’s only getting the minutes and numbers because the Spurs just aren’t what they used to be. Outside of Murray, the team is eh.
I agree, Jakob is average at best. A lottery protected 1st rounder and salary filler should get a deal done.
I guess that shows how low the standard for good centers have been set. Ahhh those old 90’s…
SA tried to hold out on the Kawhi trade by asking for Siakam but relented in taking Poetl in the package. Fast forward some 4 yrs and SA will likely get Siakam now by trading Poetl and filler. What I want to know is where’s the vaulted shooting program at SA. Poetl was a 60% FT in last yr with Raps and he’s barely 40% now.
You are out of your mind if you think the Spurs are getting Siakam in a Poeltl deal.
Watching Siakam failing as the #1 option and now clogging the space for Barnes/OG. We know Siakam ain’t the guy and certainly not the max money player. Can only hope a team like SA can take the bait. Addition by subtraction.
You obviously don’t watch many Raptors games
Sorry to say I’ve watched far too many clunkers like tonight’s Detroit where our “#1 option” hogs the ball, try to play hero ball by going 1 vs. 3, clangs his FTs, misses bunny layups,.. Watch, rinse, repeat.
Joe, you need to lay off the sauce. Pascal has been playing great lately. You are trippin so hard if you think they would trade him for Jakob friggin Poeltl. I guess you missed the part the last 2 weeks when they won 7 in a row.
If you noticed Raps won these games against opponents all affected with COVID. You’re correct about tripping hard, SA ain’t going to ruin their cap space but sometimes sh*t happens. Hey Lakers missed out on your post about Stanley but I’m sure they need someone to recite stats to them.
You’re still on that Stanley take eh hahah
my friend a complete Raptor junkie, referee etc… thinks they need to try and unload Patrick. Simmons for Siakam hopefully is a good start in discussion. This Raptor team is a good tweak away from being much better. Patrick gets his points but at a high cost. I think he has more dribbles in a game than Fred.
hard to watch the mess the Raptors have become since Patrick returned. exhibit A last night against the Pistons
Not sure who you are talking about here. Patrick who? Star?
Anyways, Siakam has actually helped make the Raptors better overall since his return. Especially when all 5 starters actually get to play together. Siakam has averaged 20.8/8.4/4.6 on .475/.727/.322 shooting, and even better the last month with averages of 23.9/10.0/6.2 on .482/.710 shooting (couldn’t find his 3p% for the last month…). There was some article that talked about how the Raptors 5 haven’t played together that much this season because of injuries and covid, but in the minutes they have played together, they had one of the best ratings or something in the league. I’ll have to look for that article (I think it was somewhere on Bleacher Report), but definitely contradicts what @TigerFan1968 #scoutseyes said.
I do agree that Siakam is not a no.1 option, and this year, I believe it’s been VanVleet that has been thrust into that role, and rightfully so. Dude needs to be an All-Star this year. He’s essentially taken over Lowry’s role and defensive anchor and primary playmaker.
Yeah, no. Siakams deal should be a huge non-starter for spurs
So now we are going to bash a 20 yr old Wiseman. Geez this generation got no patience. Talent needs time to flourish. And coaching to bring it out. This ain’t a 15 min video.
The sad thing is that half of these guys claim to be Warriors fans. The Warriors made a huge change in their organization due to the debacle of James first season. The change has obviously been positive.
Because they need to develop(start) Barnes and Trent, wouldn’t the raps need to trade siakim or OG for him ?? Poetl is good but come on. If the spurs don’t want either Precious or Boucher for him then no thanks. Raps have the best problem right now. 3 wings who are unique(in their own way) and can play & guard almost every position. If they make the playoffs that lineup can be lethal. Maybe in the 2023 trade deadline they can make a decision m, but if I’m masai I’m maximizing those 3.
The Spurs can’t afford to lose him. It’s probably time they tried to make a move, but they’ll keep Poetl. I’d try and move Thad, and swap Derrick White for a young forward, like Obi Toppin.
After two decades, it’s new terrain for spurs to be sure (being a lottery team). Jakob is solid, but come on, no one on that roster should be untouchable right now. They’re on a 4 year plan.