The most underrated big man on the block: JAK POELTL.

[MessiahUjiri]

As a Raps fan, I need to be transparent: I want them to tank for Flagg. But Poeltl is doing some things which are undoubtedly being noticed by the Front Offices in the league.

Casual fans may not know this about Poeltl:

• #2 in Offensive Rebounds/game in the league.
• Averaging 15/12/3/1/1

That’s an elite supporting player. The Raptors fan base is torn on keeping or trading him. By January, he could become one of the most sought after players on the trade market.

He just had a career high 35 & 12 against the Celtics, after a 25 & 18 game last week.

You have been warned. The Austrian Hammer will fetch a high price.

[LarsV8]

Sorry boss can't see anyone pay a high price for him.

[MessiahUjiri]

Teams where Poeltl might be a trade target:

Lakers
Pelicans
Grizzlies
Rockets
Warriors
Knicks
Thunder?


I think the Rockets are a dark horse. They’re #3 in the west, and they would look very dangerous with a vet big C. Steven Adams is outgoing dead salary.

Tari Eason looks ready to start at PF, and there are Twitter rumblings of a Jabari Smith trade. If there’s a Poeltl bidding war, Rockets can put Jabari in the mix, and it might beat everyone else out.

[ejftw]

I'm glad to see Zubac is considered to be an elite supporting player and could net a Jabari Smith, might be time to just do that if your Lawrence Frank.

[Thaddy]

I'm glad to see Zubac is considered to be an elite supporting player and could net a Jabari Smith, might be time to just do that if your Lawrence Frank.

The Clippers owe too many picks for them to lose a key piece like Zubac. It looks like they still want to be contenders despite their slow star this year. Leonard, Harden, Powell, Zubac, Jones Jr, Porter Jr, and Batum isn't a bad rotation. They could get into the playoffs and have Leonard and Harden carry them pretty far.

[DonaldSanders]

Define "high price"

[jbk1234]

Teams where Poeltl might be a trade target:

Lakers
Pelicans
Grizzlies
Rockets
Warriors
Knicks
Thunder?


I think the Rockets are a dark horse. They’re #3 in the west, and they would look very dangerous with a vet big C. Steven Adams is outgoing dead salary.

Tari Eason looks ready to start at PF, and there are Twitter rumblings of a Jabari Smith trade. If there’s a Poeltl bidding war, Rockets can put Jabari in the mix, and it might beat everyone else out.

Lakers sure. They have other needs as well, limited assets, and I'm not center is enough of a priority to spend them on.

Pelican - very unlikely. This is pretty close to a lost season for them. Maybe if the Raptors are interested in Zion and the Pelicans are interested in moving on from him.

Grizzlies - doubtful. They've got Edey, JJJ, and I'm pretty sure they just locked up a 3rd string center.

Rockets - no realistic chance. They just extended Sengun. Whatever they're going to do as far as a backup, that player won't be making $20M.

Warriors -sure. They haven't committed real cap to a center since they gave Bogut away, but that's catching up with them. I could see a scenario where they put Kuminga on the table.

Knicks and Thunder have more money committed to centers than the Rockets. I don't see them bidding at all given Poeltl's contract.

[Mavrelous]

He is a good player, a starting level player, and a good drop coverage big, but:
1. TOR overpaid for him (sunk cost, I know)
2. TOR FO isn't operating on a "tear it up" basis and is retooling on the fly, he's the team's only center.

[brackdan70]

Really good player that has a positive impact on both sides of the floor. Only 29 and on a fair contract. I could see him being worth salary ballast and two firsts to the right team. Maybe that’s ambitious? Idk. I have always liked him.

[JRoy]

TOR paid a lotto pick to get him.

If they had the chance to make that trade again, would they?

[brackdan70]

TOR paid a lotto pick to get him.

If they had the chance to make that trade again, would they?

That’s a great lens to look at this. To me, he isn’t worth a lotto pick, but maybe 1 or 2 late firsts.

[Godaddycurse]

He is a good player, a starting level player, and a good drop coverage big, but:
1. TOR overpaid for him (sunk cost, I know)
2. TOR FO isn't operating on a "tear it up" basis and is retooling on the fly, he's the team's only center.

he's not just a drop coverage big, but your other points are valid

[Godaddycurse]

TOR paid a lotto pick to get him.

If they had the chance to make that trade again, would they?

Toronto didnt think the pick they were trading for was going to be lotto/thought they would be play in at least if FVV came back... i think they would still trade a mid 1st for him in a vacuum.

[brackdan70]

TOR paid a lotto pick to get him.

If they had the chance to make that trade again, would they?

Toronto didnt think the pick they were trading for was going to be lotto/thought they would be play in at least if FVV came back... i think they would still trade a mid 1st for him in a vacuum.

Play in is lotto.

[NW]

Teams where Poeltl might be a trade target:

Lakers
Pelicans
Grizzlies
Rockets
Warriors
Knicks
Thunder?


I think the Rockets are a dark horse. They’re #3 in the west, and they would look very dangerous with a vet big C. Steven Adams is outgoing dead salary.

Tari Eason looks ready to start at PF, and there are Twitter rumblings of a Jabari Smith trade. If there’s a Poeltl bidding war, Rockets can put Jabari in the mix, and it might beat everyone else out.

Problem with that list, imo, is the number of teams on it who already have bigs they're committed to and unlikely to give much to pay $20 mil for a C who may not start or finish games (Knicks, Thunder, Rockets, maybe Grizz?).

The rest come down to their asset and cap situation. Lakers need a C, but more than some upgrades on defense? Pelicans seem viable, but for how much? Warriors will probably always go down the stretch with Draymond at the 5 and just want a center that can help him not have to play the 5 except for down the stretch of close games. Not sure they'll offer or pay much for a situational big man. There are cheaper options out there.

[JRoy]

TOR paid a lotto pick to get him.

If they had the chance to make that trade again, would they?

Toronto didnt think the pick they were trading for was going to be lotto/thought they would be play in at least if FVV came back... i think they would still trade a mid 1st for him in a vacuum.

Fair enough, but that wasn’t the question.

[Godaddycurse]

TOR paid a lotto pick to get him.

If they had the chance to make that trade again, would they?

Toronto didnt think the pick they were trading for was going to be lotto/thought they would be play in at least if FVV came back... i think they would still trade a mid 1st for him in a vacuum.

Play in is lotto.

7/8/9/10 are all play in, so not necessarily id they make it out of it

[babyjax13]

IMO, not horrid filler + a late first is his value in a vacuum. It doesn't really matter what Toronto paid, either.

[gswhoops]

Warriors might be interested but definitely wouldn’t include Kuminga in the deal

[Chris Porter's Hair]

Teams where Poeltl might be a trade target:

Lakers
Pelicans
Grizzlies
Rockets
Warriors
Knicks
Thunder?


I think the Rockets are a dark horse. They’re #3 in the west, and they would look very dangerous with a vet big C. Steven Adams is outgoing dead salary.

Tari Eason looks ready to start at PF, and there are Twitter rumblings of a Jabari Smith trade. If there’s a Poeltl bidding war, Rockets can put Jabari in the mix, and it might beat everyone else out.

Warriors -sure. They haven't committed real cap to a center since they gave Bogut away, but that's catching up with them. I could see a scenario where they put Kuminga on the table.

Why now, of all times, is it "catching up with us" that we haven't committed cap to a center?