Why The Raptors Should Explore Trading Jakob Poeltl To The Knicks

[NotMyKawhi]

Zero chance. Bulls dropping out of the Playin. Next best BK is tanking. ...

Imo only the Hornets have a chance to knock us out the playin

[Chandan]

No one has much of an issue with Jak himself, I'm sure we'd all love if he had any range at all, but for what he is that's not the issue.

The want to trade him, is because he will contribute to ultimately meaningless wins that will worsen our potential draft pick. He's unlikely to be a big part of the team when it is ready to compete due to his age, and his contract is solid value, and should be good enough to get a decent return.

If he is the difference between us getting a top 5 pick vs a top 10, I think he definitely needs to go. We are starved for high end talent, and the top 5 of next draft is looking pretty damn good.

Yep this is another reason you trade him now while his value is high....Its a win/win for us....You get some future draft captial and maybe a prospect to go along with it while also gaining possibly a higher 2025 pick (Which holds 10000000x more value than Yak would ever have)....

Whats the point of holding onto Yak whos not even going to be here long term with BBQ since hes pushing 30 years old....Only for us to be in the draft lottery anyways at the end of the year cause we are not good enough to win with Yak on the team.....And all he did through the year was make our draft odds worse with us drafting at 9-10 instead of 1-5....Make it make sense lol...

Development of Barnes/IQ is what people are throwing around....These players will develop with or without Yak here....If you need Yak to make Barnes/IQ better than why are we paying them?....There will be other Centers that come along through the draft that we could find late lottery or 2nd round...

If Jak is the make it or break it on Scottie/IQ developing, then we signed the wrong guys. Simple as that, Jak is in no way at all, the level of player that you jeopardize the future of a franchise on, we already did it once, the last thing we need is to do it again.

Jak is not some magical player that will unlock the development of our players into superstars, the players themselves do it. The thought that without him, Scottie is going to be some shell of his possible potential is sheer and utter lunacy.

I know right, if the growth of Scotty is limited by whether or not he has Poeltl on his team, might as well start rebuild #2 in 2025.

He's a somewhat competent center with a major hole in his game, nothing more nothing less.

[DelAbbot]

This isn't baseball where rushing a prospect can ruin their career.

Throw Mogbo into the fire and watch him grow

[DelAbbot]

I have to say, all these narratives for clinging to Poeltl reminds me a lot of posts for not trading FVV

We are not winning anything in the next 2 years.

[PoundTown]

I don't really want to trade Poetl to the Knicks unless we are getting Robinson in return. And Knicks are going all in, I think they'd want to keep Robinson. Realistically, they would probably give us Dadiet and a 1st, and I'm not sure exactly how the salaries would work out.

[ItsDanger]

I'm all for trading Poeltl but I'm not seeing a feasible trade with Knicks in terms of matching salaries. They'd prefer to have 2 centres so I'd be surprised if Mitch is moved. I think they go a cheaper route..

[djsunyc]

spurs records:

19/20 - 32-39
20/21 - 33-39
21/22 - 34-48

player X is not a winning player. player X = derrick white.

[ArthurVandelay]

I have to say, all these narratives for clinging to Poeltl reminds me a lot of posts for not trading FVV

We are not winning anything in the next 2 years.

And next year he has that damn player option looming so the conversation becomes nobody giving up anything for a possibly expiring contract.

Trade him asap.

As an aside, best part of IQ and Scottie’s contracts? Straight 5 years, no options

[Clutch0z24]

This absolute need to prioritise lottery balls at the expense of player development of your actual young players is so freaking stupid and backwards, it's really not worth listening to anymore imo. We've seen plenty of teams build perfectly fine championship teams without needing to bottom out.

Yak isn't 40-years-old, he's 28 FFS. He's not gonna be washed up anytime soon and is on a fine contract. There is no need to rush trading him right now until we have another starting C ready to step in.

Purposefully handicapping Scottie's development or IQ or RJ's to chase a few more losses when it might not matter in the least is so asinine. Is this supposed to be RealGM, a place where people try to at least think like execs, or people thinking that 2K is somehow real life or something?

I think the argument is if having Yak on the team hurts your chances at adding one of
Flagg
Bailey
Edgecomb
Harper
Traore
Maluach

I think the argument is....Is Yak good enough of a player to risk the chances of adding a true franchise changing talent? ....If we have Yak on the team next year and we are still a below .500 team but keeping him adds a few extra wins pushing our lottery odds at 9-12th range instead of the 1-7 range....Is that really worth it for the future of the franchise having a guy who can't even push you above .500 but all he does is ruin our draft picks to add a player to help us become legit contenders in the future?....

Yeah having Yak here might help the team today but you gotta think if its doing more long term hurt for the franchise than good...

Im at the point where if we are serious about being a legit team in 2 years you move all the playes helping us win games this upcoming season besides BBQ/Dick...Try and get the highest pick you can and draft a stud....That has more value than holding onto a 29 year old 10 PPG, 8 Reb middle of the pack C...Cause lets be real here we are not winning anything this year regardless if Yak is here or not...We are not making the playoffs....We are not beating any team in the eastern conference that are seeded 1-8....We will struggle to even make the playin...Whats the point of ruining our draft odds in possibly the best draft since 96/03?

All the anti tankers on this board need to realize all drafts aren't the same.....In this draft all 7 of the players i named would have went number 1 in the last draft....4 of the players Flagg/Bailey/Edgecomb/Harper would go top 3 in any draft class the last 20 years....There are more than just 1-2 players to try and get in this draft class...Its not like the Wemby draft where its number 1 pick or bust...Its have a top 5 pick and your prolly drafting a franchise changing player...

[Indeed]

Claxton has been in trade rumours since forever - nobody wants to pay the price
kessler is still on his rookie contract and the Jazz - a rebuilding team - is already shipping him

Thats all you need to know about those 2. Other FOs dont think they are more attractive/better than poeltl.

And San Antonio wasnt looking to trade Poeltl? You sounded like the other 2s are bad, but failed to realize our is worse?

After that answer i am questioning either your reading skills or intelligence.

Just to clarify:

Spurs were starting to rebuild and Poeltl asked to get traded. And it didnt took 4 years to trade him, just half a season. (from summer 22 to tradedeadline 23) If it were worse, Poeltl would be playing now for the minimum after his contract expired.

Claxton still hasnt been dealt to anyone. On the contrary, he got overpaid with 25mil per years which makes it him a less valuable assett. People made offers for Poeltl this offseason, not Claxton. Should also tell you who is seen as more valuable.

Kessler is still on his Rookie contract, but the Jazz decided he is expandable. What does tell you that a rebuilding teams is willing to part with a young player?

And you say, the situation with poeltl was worse?

The Spurs were in rebuild after Leonard left. They never made to the playoffs. It took them a while to trade Poeltl, and only Toronto was interested.

[agkagk]

WTF is this fanfic lmao. I can't with you people.



I'm more than willing to run with Mogbo as our centre, he's built like a tank, has a 7'2 wingspan with a 9ft standing reach, rebounds like a monster, is incredibly efficient under the rim, protects the rim, is a good passer, has good hands, and is good defensively.

Jak has more value to this team as a trade chip, than a player. Whats the worst that happens, we lose games and get a great draft pick? Oh no.

I love Mogbo and want to see him at the 5 at times but he can't paly that full time at all. The real reason to trade Yak and not replace his skillset is to handicap the roster and undermine its ability to be competitive. Trading Yak and not having a serviceable replacement is a blatant tank move cause I actually don't think Yaks trade market is that good. Now if you can get real value you trade Yak but I also think you need to replace his skillset to some degree.

Now this I fully agree with, I'm not suggesting we trade Jak for a single SRP or something, but the arguments from people about how it would absolutely cripple the development of our players is not based in reality. If a good package is around, we shouldn't blink twice to trade him, if he stays put, I'm fine with sitting him out random games to stealth tank.

But in no way, shape, or form, should we be jeopardizing a prime opportunity to have a pick in what is looking to be one of the best drafts since 2003, which is the one who had minor players like Lebron, Wade, Melo, and Bosh drafted, for a mid tier starting C.

A top 5 pick in the upcoming draft would give us the opportunity to add a player at, or above Scotties skill ceiling. That is a franchise altering addition, you do not risk changing the trajectory of your entire franchise because of a player that is average at his position at best, and won't likely have anything to do with the team when they are looking to turn the corner.

You know what fosters the development of players on your team more than anything? Playing with other high skill players.

No one said trading yak would cripple our teams development; we were referencing his true value to the organization.


Stop being dishonest lol

And seriously; raps cant out tank the bottom 5 - 7 teams.


Yo

[Morris_Shatford]

After reading six pages, who would have thought Poeltl would be such a polarizing player.

He has two full years and a PO on a contract that is becoming more reasonable by the day, there is no rush to move him for the sake of moving him.

Obviously you want build a team closer in age to your BBQ core, but ultimately Poeltl is the type of player good teams chase when they want to get better during the season a deal that isn't a nightmare to match or justify.

I would rather make the right deal than the right now deal in this case.

[Rainman66]

If Brandon Carlson emerges as a rotational player I could def see Poetl being dealt, Scottie needs to play alongside a stretch 5 to open his scoring chances, Carlson as a fringe-starter/Mogbo almost guarantees another 25 win~ season as well.

[Brinbe]

If Brandon Carlson emerges as a rotational player I could def see Poetl being dealt, Scottie needs to play alongside a stretch 5 to open his scoring chances, Carlson as a fringe-starter/Mogbo almost guarantees another 25 win~ season as well.

This is a reasonable take. The argument isn't that Yak shoudn't be traded or isn't replaceable, it's that they need someone that can perform the basics of a standard NBA Big Man to semi-decent degree, which Yak does. But it's a fine line because Kelly, while valuable in other ways, doesn't capably do those things. So it'd be hard to rely on him as the primary C for a developing team.

If Carlson can prove to do it, that's a big bonus, though that's a lot to expect from a rookie. If by mid-season they get a good offer of future assets and a young prospect/piece and they're in position to tank a bit, that's a situation where it makes sense to deal him.

[agkagk]

spurs records:

19/20 - 32-39
20/21 - 33-39
21/22 - 34-48

player X is not a winning player. player X = derrick white.

Its almost like the spurs have a 30+ year track record or something….


Young players ONLY learn winning habits, instincts, etc…. From PLAYING next to winning vets.


Bruce brown - russell - lebron - ad - jakub would moonwalk to a championship finals in this competitive landscape!

Fwiw kcp - caruso - lbj - ad - veteran centre would have made the finals or been the fave the last 3 - 5 years!

…think about it y’all!!

[rapz**7**]

If Brandon Carlson emerges as a rotational player I could def see Poetl being dealt, Scottie needs to play alongside a stretch 5 to open his scoring chances, Carlson as a fringe-starter/Mogbo almost guarantees another 25 win~ season as well.

This is a reasonable take. The argument isn't that Yak shoudn't be traded or isn't replaceable, it's that they need someone that can perform the basics of a standard NBA Big Man to semi-decent degree, which Yak does. But it's a fine line because Kelly, while valuable in other ways, doesn't capably do those things. So it'd be hard to rely on him as the primary C for a developing team.

If Carlson can prove to do it, that's a big bonus, though that's a lot to expect from a rookie. If by mid-season they get a good offer of future assets and a young prospect/piece and they're in position to tank a bit, that's a situation where it makes sense to deal him.

/End thread

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Trading top 10 centres in their prime....it's the RealGm way. Oh yeah, and centres like Yak are usually strong until they are 33 or 34. That's 7 years!

[Shakril]

Trading top 10 centres in their prime....it's the RealGm way. Oh yeah, and centres like Yak are usually strong until they are 33 or 34. That's 7 years!

I agree, though with the emergens of Wemby and Chet we can drop the top 10 now.
As the C position has more and more talent, the value of guys like poeltl that can defend them will only rise.
Either you have a star or someone that can defend them.

[AceKobe]

I have to say, all these narratives for clinging to Poeltl reminds me a lot of posts for not trading FVV

We are not winning anything in the next 2 years.

And next year he has that damn player option looming so the conversation becomes nobody giving up anything for a possibly expiring contract.

Trade him asap.

As an aside, best part of IQ and Scottie’s contracts? Straight 5 years, no options

The time is now. Trading players not part of our future at maximum value should always be the play. We need to accumulate assets and give us the best chance to be successful in the future, which includes the highest pick in this loaded draft along with extracting assets. Surely, with the cap rising, his reasonable contract becomes even better.

[CazOnReal]

Trading Jakob Poeltl isn't getting you anywhere close to the absolute dregs that is the bottom feeders of the East - and the Blazers probably aren't that far behind so you're looking at maybe 7th best odds in a worst-case (best?) scenario. If healthy but that goes without saying.

Jakob is a good player to be sure but he's not raising the floor as significantly as a lot of people are suggesting, and the impact on our record without him is undermined by how banged up that Raptors team was last year. Like it or not, we're probably stuck in that 9/10 play-in spot regardless of whether Poeltl's on the team. So unless there's a "too good to turn down" offer then you might as well keep him and let the young guys develop some PnR chemistry with him.