Poll - Yak deal. Good or bad. Top 6 protected 2024-26

[StopitLeo]

Good.

We have a glaring hole at the 5 and it has been a problem for years. Signing a FA centre, or FAs in general, is not something the Raptors can count on. Having Bird rights is a significant advantage. Poeltl will get what the market will give him. Also, the FA options are not exactly inspiring.

The pick protection on the 1st means we only give it up if we are good at some point in the next three seasons. That’s a good hedge. The odds of a pick 7 and lower becoming an impactful player is quite low. If you got a player as good as Jak it would be a big success. The difference being we have him now when he is needed and not in 3-6 years. A lot can change in that time, including moving Pascal for a several picks.

We can always buy 2nd round picks.

One last thing about the 1st round pick—the protection is valuable because we can still trade the pick.

[Tofubeque]

By putting "bad" as the middle option, it actually becomes the neutral option. Appeals to people who are moderates or can't decide how they feel about the trade. Wipe those away and "good" is in the lead

[brownbobcat]

Terrible. Pending UFA who likely would have come to us regardless (or a sign and trade).

We had to trade for him there was no chance we'd get him through S&T considering our cap situation and the pieces the Spurs want. The top 6 protection is a nice illusion that the Spurs can hold on to. We're currently a borderline lottery team. But the Nets have turned back into the Nyets and we filled our biggest hole. It's a B+ trade from my persepective.

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

[JB7]

Is the 2024 draft looked upon as weak? Maybe the FO only sees enough talent that if the team did have another horrible season next year, that at least they would be protected for where the real talent would fall.

I see acquiring Jakob as a way to give Koloko more time to develop, and bring a friend in for PS, to keep him happy. I still see FVV being dealt, probably along with OG and GTJ, if they are able to pull something off with the Blazers. If all of those guys get dealt, Jakob's deal is not a problem. Raps needed to trade for Jakob to be able to offer him something more than the mid-level exemption, and I can't see teams with cap room chasing Jakob, so whoever traded for him was probably going to sign him.

[Thaddy]

Terrible. Pending UFA who likely would have come to us regardless (or a sign and trade).

We had to trade for him there was no chance we'd get him through S&T considering our cap situation and the pieces the Spurs want. The top 6 protection is a nice illusion that the Spurs can hold on to. We're currently a borderline lottery team. But the Nets have turned back into the Nyets and we filled our biggest hole. It's a B+ trade from my persepective.

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

For asset retention? We are a borderline lottery team without Poeltl. Koloko and Birch had positive impacts despite being scrubs. Poeltl is much better and hence would make us a playoff team in the East. Internal growth will turn us into a contender.

[TheRaptor!]

Terrible. Pending UFA who likely would have come to us regardless (or a sign and trade).

We had to trade for him there was no chance we'd get him through S&T considering our cap situation and the pieces the Spurs want. The top 6 protection is a nice illusion that the Spurs can hold on to. We're currently a borderline lottery team. But the Nets have turned back into the Nyets and we filled our biggest hole. It's a B+ trade from my persepective.

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

Uh...i think it should be obvious by now...

[JB7]

Terrible. Pending UFA who likely would have come to us regardless (or a sign and trade).

We had to trade for him there was no chance we'd get him through S&T considering our cap situation and the pieces the Spurs want. The top 6 protection is a nice illusion that the Spurs can hold on to. We're currently a borderline lottery team. But the Nets have turned back into the Nyets and we filled our biggest hole. It's a B+ trade from my persepective.

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

They can still tank this year. Jakob is about the few years after this year. Just buying time for Koloko's development.

[brownbobcat]

We had to trade for him there was no chance we'd get him through S&T considering our cap situation and the pieces the Spurs want. The top 6 protection is a nice illusion that the Spurs can hold on to. We're currently a borderline lottery team. But the Nets have turned back into the Nyets and we filled our biggest hole. It's a B+ trade from my persepective.

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

For asset retention?

Which means what, exactly? I'd rather have a top-10 pick then pay $20M/yr to Poeltl and worsen lottery odds for this year.

[Thaddy]

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

For asset retention?

Which means what, exactly? I'd rather have a top-10 pick then pay $20M/yr to Poeltl and worsen lottery odds for this year.

If you have a losing team your assets aren't as valuable. A top 10 pick this year doesn't get you a center, at best you'll get Walker. He looks like an Isiah Stewart. That just makes us a tanking team again next season.

The idea is to compete, get playoff experience, show that guys can produce in a playoff environment, and when you sell them you get a higher return.

[brownbobcat]

We had to trade for him there was no chance we'd get him through S&T considering our cap situation and the pieces the Spurs want. The top 6 protection is a nice illusion that the Spurs can hold on to. We're currently a borderline lottery team. But the Nets have turned back into the Nyets and we filled our biggest hole. It's a B+ trade from my persepective.

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

They can still tank this year. Jakob is about the few years after this year. Just buying time for Koloko's development.

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

[brownbobcat]

For asset retention?

Which means what, exactly? I'd rather have a top-10 pick then pay $20M/yr to Poeltl and worsen lottery odds for this year.

If you have a losing team your assets aren't as valuable. A top 10 pick this year doesn't get you a center, at best you'll get Walker. He looks like an Isiah Stewart. That just makes us a tanking team again next season.

The idea is to compete, get playoff experience, show that guys can produce in a playoff environment, and when you sell them you get a higher return.

If you're on a losing team, you don't need to give up lottery picks in order to pay $20M/yr to Poeltl. I don't care how weak the draft is, you should be able to do better than that unless your scouting is absolute trash.

Who the hell cares about a C? Crappy teams need stars and high-end talent. You don't make decisions based on need.

[Fairview4Life]

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

They can still tank this year. Jakob is about the few years after this year. Just buying time for Koloko's development.

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

We were ~50 wins last season and magically turned things around to suck ass this year. Maybe we can go the other way next season.

[goinrogue]

I voted bad. It’s bad because it means we’re doubling down on the Pascal and Fred core and I think it’s time to move on. It’s not abysmal because we didn’t give up Gary and a pick.

[ConSarnit]

Apparently there were multiple offers for Poeltl, not surprising, one of them being from the Celts... I think sometimes people lose perspective that we're not just bidding against ourselves.



https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/02/spurs-declined-celtics-trade-offer-for-jakob-poeltl-that-included-second-round-picks-players.html

I think the issue for some of us is why are we bidding in the first place? Not sure how much this moves the needle for us.

I don't disagree, in an ideal world was hoping for a more athletic big, like a Claxton... But not sure what the cost would be and/or if Brooklyn would even consider moving him... We also need more athleticism and 3pt shooting, as opposed to a more static big like Poeltl.

I suppose if there is a silver lining to this trade it’s that we picked a direction: defense. Our offensive issues probably played a part in our defensive struggles. We were forced to play an aggressive style to force turnovers and get out in transition because we couldn’t score in the half court (probably still can’t after this trade). At least now we can pull back a bit on the defensive aggression because we have back line rim protection. If we move one of FVV/Trent our starting lineup is now huge and is probably incredibly difficult to score against. Not having to play the collapse and recover game might save our guys legs a little.

We probably fall off a bit offensively. Our defense might more than compensate for that now. Stabilizes our team but still don’t think we have high upside unless Scottie takes a big leap on the offensive end. If we don’t move FVV/Trent I’m not super excited that this is probably going to hurt our draft position this year (and cost us our pick altogether next year).

[brownbobcat]

They can still tank this year. Jakob is about the few years after this year. Just buying time for Koloko's development.

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

We were ~50 wins last season and magically turned things around to suck ass this year. Maybe we can go the other way next season.

Tampa tank was a very different situation and you know it. This team carried over a ton of guys from last year and still underperformed. At best, it's a .500 squad.

[Thaddy]

If they're tanking, why do they need Poeltl at all?

They can still tank this year. Jakob is about the few years after this year. Just buying time for Koloko's development.

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

Read the OP and look at the stats Birch and Koloko put up while playing with injuries or as a rookie. Poeltl is a proven starter and will be a positive impact player in the playoffs (where he also played with limited spacing with DeRozan).

This trade makes us better than a 500 level team and potentially a 50 win team. The impact Poeltl will have will cascade down to our other players. Boucher, Siakam, Barnes, and our other guys won't get abused by Zubac or other bigger average centers. The first showcase will be against the Jazz, and we will blow them out.

Siakam, Barnes, OG (if he stays), Boucher, and some of our other shooters will shoot better now that they don't have to wrestle in the paint on the other end. Poeltl is good at finding corner shooters off the short roll. We have a big man that can finish passes from Scottie and Siakam underneath the rim with relative ease.

This trade is going to be good.

[Fairview4Life]

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

We were ~50 wins last season and magically turned things around to suck ass this year. Maybe we can go the other way next season.

Tampa tank was a very different situation and you know it. This team carried over a ton of guys from last year and still underperformed. At best, it's a .500 squad.

Last year wasn't Tampa tank. We won a bunch last year, lost a bunch this year with the same team, and management clearly thinks last season was more indicative of the talent level. Anyway, it was more tongue in cheek.

[brownbobcat]

They can still tank this year. Jakob is about the few years after this year. Just buying time for Koloko's development.

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

Read the OP and look at the stats Birch and Koloko put up while playing with injuries or as a rookie. Poeltl is a proven starter and will be a positive impact player in the playoffs (where he also played with limited spacing with DeRozan).

This trade makes us better than a 500 level team and potentially a 50 win team. The impact Poeltl will have will cascade down to our other players. Boucher, Siakam, Barnes, and our other guys won't get abused by Zubac or other bigger average centers. The first showcase will be against the Jazz, and we will blow them out.

Siakam, Barnes, OG (if he stays), Boucher, and some of our other shooters will shoot better now that they don't have to wrestle in the paint on the other end. Poeltl is good at finding corner shooters off the short roll. We have a big man that can finish passes from Scottie and Siakam underneath the rim with relative ease.

This trade is going to be good.

Poeltl is a player that adds 10 wins? I've heard it all now. The idea that we should care about matchups or positional-based needs is just ridiculous at this point. It's not as if C is the only hole here.

[RaptorsCity12]

Ask me at 3 PM what I think of this deal....

So far, not good. But let's see what Masai has up his sleeve.... if anything.

[Thaddy]

Does it make sense to you that they can be a bottom-6 team only for this year, but magically turn things around next year and win 50 games? Because that's the only scenario where this trade works out.

Read the OP and look at the stats Birch and Koloko put up while playing with injuries or as a rookie. Poeltl is a proven starter and will be a positive impact player in the playoffs (where he also played with limited spacing with DeRozan).

This trade makes us better than a 500 level team and potentially a 50 win team. The impact Poeltl will have will cascade down to our other players. Boucher, Siakam, Barnes, and our other guys won't get abused by Zubac or other bigger average centers. The first showcase will be against the Jazz, and we will blow them out.

Siakam, Barnes, OG (if he stays), Boucher, and some of our other shooters will shoot better now that they don't have to wrestle in the paint on the other end. Poeltl is good at finding corner shooters off the short roll. We have a big man that can finish passes from Scottie and Siakam underneath the rim with relative ease.

This trade is going to be good.

Poeltl is a player that adds 10 wins? I've heard it all now.

He added 7 wins for the Spurs last season according to WS. Maybe you should look at the numbers before being all doomsdaybro