NBA Trade Idea: Spurs' Jakob Poeltl to Oklahoma City Thunder?
The NBA Trade Deadline is just one week away and several teams are likely planning to make an offer for San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl.
Bleacher Report has speculated a trade that would send Poeltl to a surprise buyer, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In return, forward Darius Bazley and a 2025 lottery-protected pick (from Miami Heat) would be sent to San Antonio in Bleacher Report’s prospective trade.
Poeltl, 27, averages 11.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists and would be a welcomed addition to a Thunder squad struggling to protect the paint this season.
“The Thunder are 26th in defensive rebounding percentage and 22nd in paint points allowed. Poeltl can help in those specific areas immediately. Not to mention, he’d greatly improve their close-range finishing (they’re the worst-shooting team in the restricted area) and work pick-and-roll magic with Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC could go from back-end play-in tournament candidate to plucky first-round opponent,” said Bleacher Report.
Although Poeltl is a legitimate force inside the paint, San Antonio may be inclined to flip him for young prospects and draft picks now before they're obligated to pay him this offseason.
Bazley, 22, gives the Spurs a 6-8 forward averaging 5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists this season.
San Antonio would offer Bazley a chance to revitalize his career while offloading Poeltl as the team focuses on developing youth and acquiring picks to improve their future as they look to reestablish themselves as a competitive team in a Western Conference loaded with young talent.
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