Madhouse wrote:JB7 wrote:mdenny wrote:
Speaking for myself...i remember gow amazibg the chemistry was between poetl and siakam. Wicked big to big actions. So imo there's potential for both him and siakam to make each other better than they are currently perceived.
The problem with getting him: we have the worst bench in the league and Center happens to ve the only position we have depth at. If we DO get poetl (i doubt there's any substance to it)....one would think we HAVE trade either precious or birch for a backup guard player. Doesn't make sense to have 3 centers and literally 0 bench guys capable of playing in the backcourt.
Here's what i would do:
Birch/flynn/FRP for Poetl and SRP.
We upgrade from birch to poetl. Our pick this summer goes from between 15 and 20th overall to around 35th to 40th overall. Poetl and Precious becomes our frontcourt depth.
Then trade boucher for an 8 milly per year combo guard to a team that needs frontcourt help (and has a glut of guards). Not sure who. But it shouldnt be hard to do. There's alot of players that fit the bill.
I think a deal for Poeltl makes a lot of sense for the Raps. Addresses a need for a starting C that has probably been the most glaring need in their starting line-up. It also allows the remaining core players to settle into more appropriate roles.
I think a deal of Achiuwa and Boucher (plus maybe a 2 round draft pick) for Poeltl makes sense for both sides. Poeltl doesn't move the needle enough for SAS to invest in him, especially since he will be 28 at the start of his new deal (SAS is finally committing to the rebuild). But his age fits perfectly with where the Raps are at with their core.
Lineup:
C) Poeltl 32 mins (Birch 16mins)
PF) Siakam 24mins (Barnes 24mins)
SF) Anunoby 36mins (Barnes 12mins)
SG) Trent Jr. 36mins (Mykhailiuk 12mins)
PG) VanVleet 36mins (Siakam 12mins)
Achiuwa gives SAS a young big on a controllable contract, with future potential for development. For the Raptors, there are less mins for Achiuwa if Poeltl is coming in, and Birch is someone Nurse would trust more coming off the bench.
Boucher gives SAS an interesting piece, they of all teams could resign.
And adding Poeltl to the starting lineup allows the Raps to strengthen their bench by moving Barnes into the 6th man role. He could play the same number of minutes, just more in a supporting role, until he is ready to assume a larger role (hopefully number 1 option) in a couple years time.
Birch and Mykhailiuk provide just enough minutes off the bench to keep the top 6 around 36mins a game.
And in terms of who ends the game, I think Nurse just goes with the strongest 5 (of the core 6) in any given game.
But if alignment in age is your argument why not try and trade Barnes as well for someone who is similar to Fred and Pascal?
I think Poeltl is a better fit overall than Precious. Adds more size at C (rim protection), plus he is better at rolling to the rim on offence to draw in the defense of the opponent, and his age is not a deterrent, because the core (FVV, PS, OG) are all close to that age. I think Poeltl's age is more of a deterrent for SAS, because they appear to be going into full rebuild. By the time they are competitive again, he will be well into his 30's. And he is not a player you build around. More of a great complement to a strong core.
I would never trade Barnes, unless it was a deal that could not be refused (another better young star player). The hope is Barnes can develop quickly to being the clutch scorer for the team at the end of games. But even if that takes 2-3 years, the rest of the core is still young enough to still be in their primes for another run at the championship.
The reason the NBA has no clear dominant team is age and injuries are catching up with all of the current superstars. The Raptors could be looking at another competitive window in a couple of years as Lebron, Durant, Curry/Draymond, CP3 age out.
