Spurs Winning Jakob Poeltl Trade with Raptors So Far?
Over a month removed from the NBA trade deadline, the San Antonio Spurs look like winners ... even if their 16-49 record doesn't reflect that.
At the trade deadline, the San Antonio Spurs gave up veteran big man Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors for Khem Birch, a top-six-protected 2024 first-round pick, a 2023 second-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick.
Bleacher Report has regraded the trade for both teams, and the ‘rebuilding’ Spurs have received an A- for their haul.
“With the 27-year-old center headed for unrestricted free agency, San Antonio might have lost him for nothing this summer,” B/R said. “The Spurs determined Poeltl wasn't a part of their future and added an asset that might turn into a player who will be. There's nothing wrong with that approach for a rebuilder.”
The Raptors, on the other hand, received a C grade due to the compensation that they gave up for a soon-to-be-free agent in Poeltl.
“With Poeltl on the floor, Raptors opponents take 6.9 percent fewer shots at close range,” B/R said.
Toronto remains below .500 this season, but Poeltl has improved Toronto’s defense which was near the bottom of the league before acquiring the veteran rim protector. However, B/R added that “the mere possibility that Toronto gave up a future first-rounder for either a rental or an overpaid non-stretch, non-switch center is genuinely concerning.”
With impending paydays for veterans on the Raptors roster, such as Fred VanVleet, there's no guarantee that Toronto will be able to resign Poeltl this offseason.
Though the Spurs will ultimately be graded based on the players that they draft from the picks they received in the trade, it's still uplifting to see San Antonio’s rebuild trending in the right direction.
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