NBA Trade Rumors: Jakob Poeltl could be a Boston Celtics deadline target
NBA Trade Rumors: Talented San Antonio Spurs Jakob Poeltl could emerge as a trade deadline target for the Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics, though the early portion of the season, has been every bit as good as advertised. After losing in the NBA Finals last season, the Celtics have the look of a team that is ready to finish the job this time around.
Especially with how aggressive the team was during the offseason, you can bet they’re going to try and add a final piece at the NBA Trade Deadline.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Jakob Poeltl is a player that many expect the Celtics to target ahead of the trade deadline. It’s a name that makes sense for the Celtics for several reasons.
For one, Poeltl is on an expiring contract and wouldn’t hurt Boston’s salary cap sheet all that much. Unless they look to re-sign him during the offseason, but that’s a different conversation for another day. And second, he’s a player that can come in and offer the Celtics the necessary frontcourt depth that they simply don’t have at the moment behind Robert Williams and Al Horford.
Even though the Celtics have managed to power through this season, it has been far from ideal to start the year without Williams.
What a potential trade package could look like from the Boston Celtics
Predicting what a trade package could look like won’t be easy, but you can expect the Spurs to want at least a first-round pick in exchange. Even though Poeltl doesn’t figure to be part of the Spurs’ long-term future, he’s still a very good player that will at least fetch a first-round pick.
Poeltl is averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists per game on 66 percent shooting from the field this season for the Spurs.
Additionally, the Celtics could attach a couple of contracts and one of their trade exceptions to make a deal work. Maybe a player such as Payton Pritchard, who has shown some ability throughout his young career, is sent to San Antonio.
I’m not sure what else the Spurs would be looking for on Boston’s roster that they also seem fit to move, but there are some workable possibilities.
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If the Spurs come to the conclusion that they’re ready to move Poeltl at the trade deadline, it could make for an interesting market.