As the trade deadline approaches, San Antonio must weigh the benefits of adding to its draft stash against the price it would pay for losing its starting center.
I have been on the fence about whether to move Poeltl but after watching him play this year I think the Spurs should keep him. He is young, 20mill a year is reasonable (and moveable should the time come). Unless they are moving him for a significant young upgrade or a pick in the lottery I think you roll with what you got. I like Josh and McBuckets but they are wasted on the Spurs and should be knocking down 3s for a contender. Hopefully they can convey into first round picks.
Wisemen has a high ceiling but he is injury prone and in the time we have seen him on court he doesn't look like a #2 pick. I suppose I might do that deal as long as a 1st was coming with him.
I can't keep track of it all -- with bird rights and all the cap rules, would there be a disadvantage to trading him and then re-signing him in the offseason? (Ignoring the human reasons resigning him after trading him would be less likely.)
Technically this is possible, but as you said, the human side of it makes that a very tricky situation. Tack on the fact the league would be paying close attention to any potential handshake deal that may have taken place and it’s just not likely. If he goes, he goes -- at least that’s how you realistically have to operate.
Great article thanks for summing up the complexities of the situation with Jakob.
It’s going to be tough to lose more games than some of the teams below us. Having a star in your role player like Jakob, which is why other teams covet him imo, will also help contribute to a few wins here and there.
Curious to see what happens, if anything substantial.
How much, if at all, does draft position jockeying play into their decision with Jak? Outside that 1-16 stretch, we haven't been quite as bad as the other bottom feeders this season. If we do trade Jak, it probably increases our odds of finishing in the bottom 3 this season, and it also probably leads us to a better draft spot next year, when we're still gonna be bad.
That’s the big question, right? But along the same “self-sabotage” line, if they really want to be worse this season they don’t have to trade Jakob to accomplish that if we’re being honest. Their margin for error is so small that it really doesn’t take much for them to crack even with Jak. Trade him, keep him… it doesn’t have to make a ton of difference this season, especially with the flattened odds at the top. But if you do trade him you’re definitely committing to getting worse, likely making the growth curve longer and potentially eating into the Keldon/Vassell years. And I don’t get the feeling they’re interested in playing this string out for extra years at this point.
And let’s be Frank here, I’m not sure anyone is “catching” that dumpster fire in Houston.
I have been on the fence about whether to move Poeltl but after watching him play this year I think the Spurs should keep him. He is young, 20mill a year is reasonable (and moveable should the time come). Unless they are moving him for a significant young upgrade or a pick in the lottery I think you roll with what you got. I like Josh and McBuckets but they are wasted on the Spurs and should be knocking down 3s for a contender. Hopefully they can convey into first round picks.
Young player you say. If Warriors offered Wiseman and future (protected) 1st for Poeltl.... what do you think Spurs should do?
Wisemen has a high ceiling but he is injury prone and in the time we have seen him on court he doesn't look like a #2 pick. I suppose I might do that deal as long as a 1st was coming with him.
Market sets the price... let’s see what teams offer for Jak and if Spurs brass thinks it meets or exceeds asking price.
In an ideal world Jak stays and he forms a fearsome frontcourt with Wemba and Sochan.
If they do draft Wemby, it would be good to have Jakob in place for a little while… at the very least until Wemby is ready to play the 5
Great write-up, as usual. Thanks Matthew!
Thanks for reading, as usual!
I can't keep track of it all -- with bird rights and all the cap rules, would there be a disadvantage to trading him and then re-signing him in the offseason? (Ignoring the human reasons resigning him after trading him would be less likely.)
Technically this is possible, but as you said, the human side of it makes that a very tricky situation. Tack on the fact the league would be paying close attention to any potential handshake deal that may have taken place and it’s just not likely. If he goes, he goes -- at least that’s how you realistically have to operate.
Great article thanks for summing up the complexities of the situation with Jakob.
It’s going to be tough to lose more games than some of the teams below us. Having a star in your role player like Jakob, which is why other teams covet him imo, will also help contribute to a few wins here and there.
Curious to see what happens, if anything substantial.
How much, if at all, does draft position jockeying play into their decision with Jak? Outside that 1-16 stretch, we haven't been quite as bad as the other bottom feeders this season. If we do trade Jak, it probably increases our odds of finishing in the bottom 3 this season, and it also probably leads us to a better draft spot next year, when we're still gonna be bad.
That’s the big question, right? But along the same “self-sabotage” line, if they really want to be worse this season they don’t have to trade Jakob to accomplish that if we’re being honest. Their margin for error is so small that it really doesn’t take much for them to crack even with Jak. Trade him, keep him… it doesn’t have to make a ton of difference this season, especially with the flattened odds at the top. But if you do trade him you’re definitely committing to getting worse, likely making the growth curve longer and potentially eating into the Keldon/Vassell years. And I don’t get the feeling they’re interested in playing this string out for extra years at this point.
And let’s be Frank here, I’m not sure anyone is “catching” that dumpster fire in Houston.