After two years filled with injuries and being in the NBA draft lottery, the Golden State Warriors are back to being a force in the Western Conference. Their core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson are reunited and looking to add more titles to their resume.
Since their core is proving it can still compete for championships, the Warriors will likely be looking to make some upgrades this offseason. When listing trade targets for Golden State, Bleacher Report cited Jakob Poeltl as a player they may go after.
Kevon Looney has been the Golden State Warriors’ starting center for years now but will enter free agency this summer. If they are unable to retain him, it will leave a hole in their frontcourt. Targeting Poeltl is the exact type of in-the-margins move to expect from Golden State moving forward.
At 26-years-old, Poeltl is getting ready to enter his peak years. He is also coming off his best season as a pro. In 68 games for the San Antonio Spurs, he averaged 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, all career-highs.
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Having played under Gregg Popovich, Poeltl understands how to thrive in a ball-movement-oriented style of offense. This makes him a perfect fit for the Warriors and their beautiful brand of basketball.
When Golden State drafted James Wiseman second overall, the expectation was that he would be their center for the future. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed his first two years as a pro. With his development being delayed so much, it begs the question if he can catch up to the timeline of a team that is trying to win now.
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At just over $9 million for next year, Jakob Poeltl has a very trade-able contract for the San Antonio Spurs. Given their batch of enticing young players, the Golden State Warriors have the assets to get a move like this done. There could even be a reality where Golden State gives Wiseman a fresh start in exchange for a more polished big man who fits their system.
