Boston has maintained an interest in Poeltl for several seasons now and is continuing to monitor his market, according to team sources who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The sticking point has been, as always, price. San Antonio has made it known to interested parties throughout the league the Spurs want two first-round picks for Poeltl, according to team and league sources, which was the same stance they took on Derrick White last season. 7 mins ago – via Jared Weiss @ The Athletic
That's obviously a hard no for the Celts.
It’s going to be a hard no for anyone. Derrick White had 3.5 years left on his contract. Poeltl has half a season. Also, Derrick White is better.
Whether White is better or not is less pertinent for me than his fit. White is a great fit on both sides of the ball, while there would be difficulties for Poeltl on both sides of the ball.
But in general, you don’t trade a 1st for a 1/2-year rental reserve, which is what Poeltl is to the Celtics. Some other team who needs a starter might be more interested, although I’m not sure what team that would be.
Yes, exactly. And, of course, Herr Poeltl has something to say about this, and he's likely to want a bigger role than the third big.
Relatedly, Stevens has done a terrific job constructing this team.
Amen to that. The Brogdon deal, the trade deadline deals last season were just so efficient in bringing in guys who could make it work and slimming the roster. And somehow, privileging shot-creators over shooters led to this season's phenomenally good shooting.
We have the best record in the league, and our most immediate need is a big wing for the 8th-9th man in the rotation. Someone like Danilo Gallinari. I don’t think he can make it back this year, but I’d also like to keep him around for next year, because it’s easy to see how well he’d fit in.
I agree about Gallinari, except that I'm skeptical that he'll have much of a career left. To be determined.
On the other hand I do not agree that the most immediate need is a big wing. Talent is always welcome, of course. Brad identified scoring off the bench as a priority in his exit interview; and Gallinari addressed that need, but so did Brogdon, who has also been a major shot-creator off the dribble for others as well as himself. Because of Brogdon, the need for another wing is not urgent, ime.
Why a
big wing, specifically? And if that's the need, why not give five more mpg to Grant Williams?
I'm more of the school that says the most immediate need is a third big. I'd go further than that, and say that he should be a good paint protector. But even there there're good options already on the team, at least in case of a short-term absence of Horford or Rob. They've gotten really good minutes from Luke and Blake, and Grant has been stellar as a starter when needed.