Classic mid teen pick. But some dummy team will reach for him at 7-10 range
No exceptional length , strength, skills , passing skills/top iq, handles
Sabonis picked him apart round of 32.
So no , don't trade up, for him. Stay away
You keep talking about 1 game, man. A game that Poeltl was limited because of foul problems. However, you always forget to mention their international meeting last summer where Sabonis was completely dominated by him.
Poeltl is 7-1, with nearly a 7-3 wingspan, and is said to have a vert of 36-38 inches. Then you add his ability to rebound, defend, and pass and he looks like a franchise center.
Why not then talk about the time they met in high school too?
Round 32 was the latest and was the best indication imo. Both guys considered the top guy for their teams. Both guys going 1 on 1. No double team (except eventually on Sabonis)
The end result. Sabonis picked him apart. Foul problems , yes bc he was schooling him, up and unders /fakes left and right. And it was on the defensive end too (look at savonis rebounding numbers vs poeltl). Poeltl was clueless
His extra length, leap capability couldn't save him.
BTW he is a good leaper after momentum like Zeller. Not quick from standstill (practical)
The thing is length and athleticism are good indicators of upside. So while Sabonis won that match up it's likely that he won't win future ones once both develop correctly.
Also, college is a different game from the NBA. Sabonis killed Poeltl in the post, but post play happens significantly less in the NBA than it does in college.
In the NBA the most important traits for a big to have are athleticism, length and lateral quickness. Poeltl's skill set fits the NBA better than Sabonis'.
Would Sabonis be able to dominate in the same way he did in that college game, when few teams will be willing to dump the ball down to him in the post in the NBA?
I like Sabonis, but his game doesn't fit the modern NBA as well as Poeltl's regardless of what happened in what stylistically was a vastly different game than the two would be in if they went head to head in the NBA.
No offense but this modern NBA game talk is a little rubbish
The reality it's just rare to see guys who have competent post skills
It's a lost art. If the next shaq, Hakeem arrive, the NBA will go back to how it was before. And when the next best stretch big who can rebound/block shots go back to that etc
Look at the NBA now. How many bigs have any kind of competent post skills? Like maybe 3?
Aldridge being one. Do you see SA having him shoot 3s?
With this said , I'm not stating Sabonis will be unstoppable down low. But he has the capability to operate , execute and teams will have to worry about it. Sabonis is not like Sullinger or Kelly down low. He is like a Jefferson compenetent down low. Knows what he is doing to score the bucket or pass it to the open man. He has so many tricks, combinations, it prob dizzys his opponent
It is going to be a useful weapon depending on the stage of the game. Sabonis not only has the skills but fg percent to back it up
And he can shoot (will need to lean on this a little more at the next level) and drive to the basket.
