The NBA’s Most Obvious Trade Candidate
by Sam Hodde/Associated Press
Trade season has kicked in and there haven’t been many trades, but there have been many names mentioned in trade rumors. There are of course the Raptors starters, O.G. Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. There’s the annual John Collins and Myles Turner trade talks although the latter recently signed an extension. The Orlando Magic and the Jazz could also be sellers and Jae Crowder could finally find a new team.
However, all of these things are uncertain. One thing I can say with a higher level of certainty than most is that Jakob Poeltl will get traded. The Spurs have taken the art of tanking to new levels over the last month and it has led to a ton of losses. The Spurs have lost 10 of their last 11 games and they have been fine limiting Poeltl’s minutes over that time. In Saturday’s overtime loss to the Suns, Poeltl played over 30 minutes for the first time in a while, likely because the game was competitive and because of the extra OT minutes. However, Poeltl only played 21, 23, 15, 22 and 22 minutes over the five games before the Suns one. The Spurs are content to limit Poeltl’s playing time as the team continues to lose and likely preserve him for a trade.
Poeltl is 27. The Spurs’ other key players, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones and Jeremy Sochan are 22, 23, 23 and 19 respectively. The Spurs would likely want to hold onto all of them as they continue to rebuild. The same can’t be said for Poeltl who doesn’t fit the timeline and whose skillset would be a perfect fit on a playoff team.
Poeltl has been linked most heavily to the Toronto Raptors who drafted him and who he played for from 2016-18, and the Boston Celtics. The Raptors could definitely use his talents, as they are lacking a true center that can provide elite defense. The Celtics are a more curious fit with the steady presences of Al Horford and Robert Williams III in the frontcourt, so that trade seems unlikely but there is a reason why they (and many other teams) are so interested in Poeltl. The Spurs reached the play-in last year and Poeltl started all year averaging 29 minuters per game and producing averages of 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while shooting just under 62% from the field, very strong numbers.
Rumors have circulated Gary Trent Jr. could be a piece in a potential Spurs-Raptors deal. Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Poeltl provides a boost in the frontcourt and, at the very least, presents a better chance for playoff teams who will have to face guys like Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic in the playoffs. At least one team will find a way to work out a deal for him and in the process the Spurs will get their desired draft capital. It also helps that the Spurs have a solid, younger backup in Zach Collins who has proven to be decent in spot-starts for an injured Poeltl this season. At this point, it just feels like the writing is on the wall for Poeltl and his Spurs tenure, but the question remains as to who actually makes the move for him. Who/what would the Celtics move for him? Would the Spurs receive Gary Trent Jr. in a potential Raptors trade? Are the Mavericks entering the sweepstakes? It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the coming weeks, but Poeltl being moved is probably the closest thing to a guarantee as the trade deadline approaches.