It almost feels like the Boston Celtics have not had a dominant true 7-footer since Robert Parish. But that could all change in the coming weeks.
On an episode of “The Hoop Collective” this week (h/t Real GM), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl as a possible Celtics trade target that industry people have been speculating about. Windhorst notes that the Spurs and the Celtics already linked up on last season’s Derrick White trade.
The 27-year-old Poeltl has averages of 13.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season. He is an oak tree of an interior defender at 7-foot-1 and has superb touch around the basket with his 62.9 career field-goal percentage. Poeltl will be a free agent after the season, having failed to agree to an extension with the Spurs last summer.
The Celtics are still waiting on injured starting center Robert Williams, who will likely miss another month or longer after undergoing left knee surgery. In the meantime, the team is making do with 36-year-old Al Horford and placeholders Luke Kornet and Noah Vonleh getting most of the minutes at the 5.
Adding a player like Poeltl would solve their issues in the short term while also giving them the flexibility to either re-sign Poeltl or let him walk after the season depending on Williams’ health. Poeltl is a fairly in-demand asset, though, one of many on the San Antonio roster right now.
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