Why Golden State Warriors should balk at Jakob Poeltl trade
The Golden State Warriors’ poor start to the season has increased trade speculation around the reigning NBA champions, with San Antonio Spurs’ big man Jakob Poeltl a name constantly linked to them as a possible target.
It makes sense for a number of reasons — from an on-court perspective, his defense and high IQ would give the Warriors practically another version of Kevon Looney. From a trade standpoint, his contract aligns perfectly with that of third-year center James Wiseman.
Do the struggling Golden State Warriors, sitting with a 15-16 record, really need Jakob Poeltl as much as most are making out?
In a recent article for Bleacher Report identifying fresh trade targets for each NBA team, writer Zach Buckley believes that Golden State desperately need to fill the hole of their backup center position.
"“Golden State’s decision to give Draymond Green run with the second unit helped stabilize that group, but it’s a Band-Aid solution for something that needs surgical attention…This group needs some external assistance. A center such as Poeltl who could plug the hole created by James Wiseman’s lack of development would be massive”, Buckley writes."
To say that Wiseman’s lack of development has created a hole is creating a false narrative. In fact, you could argue that the lack of said hole has led to limited opportunities for the former second overall pick.
It’s easy to forget that Golden State went the entirety of last season with just one traditional center available, yet still managed to win another NBA championship. While Green has noticeably taken a role in the Warriors second unit, he’s playing the center position just 4% more than last regular season (19-23%) according to Basketball Reference.
Green then plays much more at center during the playoffs, having been utilized there for 32% (10-12 minutes per game) of his minutes during the successful postseason run earlier this year. You add in the fact that Looney grew his reputation enormously and into someone who could be relied upon for 20-25 minutes, and you’re talking about a ‘hole’ that needs to be plugged for just 10-15 minutes.
Poeltl’s a very good player — the point is that he’d be much more highly valued elsewhere than the Warriors. There’d be playoff games, assuming the Warriors made it, where he might play less than 15 minutes — Golden State aren’t, or at least shouldn’t, give up Wiseman and picks for that return.
In addition, Poeltl’s a free agent at season’s end and therefore the Warriors shouldn’t give up anything of value without an extension. Firstly, the Warriors have little capacity to provide him the $15+ million per season that he’ll likely get in free agency, and secondly, he and his management will understand that increased opportunities are likely elsewhere than in Golden State.
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The Warriors’ three-headed big rotation — Looney and the two Green’s — combined for 43 points and 27 rebounds in Sunday’s win over the Toronto Raptors. The center minutes might be the least of Golden State’s issues, and it’s time we start viewing Poeltl, and even Wiseman, as luxuries to this team rather than definite necessities.