Boston Celtics: 3 possible trade ideas for Terry Rozier
3. San Antonio Spurs
Why the Celtics say yes:
The Celtics are stuck trying to maneuver their way through the salary cap. A first round pick is valuable for Boston because it’s another cheap contract and a young talented piece, or an asset to include in a blockbuster trade. The Spurs pick will likely be in the late teens-to-early 20s. It’s a weaker draft class this year, but a first round pick is always beneficial.
Adding Poeltl is a cheap option because he’s only making $2.9 million this year and $3.8 million next season. He’s also a low-risk, high-reward type of player. He was drafted with the ninth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors.
Maybe Brad Stevens can bring out the best in him. Poeltl was traded this last offseason to the Spurs in a deal that swapped All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kawhi Leonard. Poeltl has struggled to find his role with his new team in San Antonio, though he’s been a starter.
He’s only averaged 10.0 minutes per game in six games, marking a career low. Last season he saw 18.6 minutes per game and averaged 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks a night. If he can grow and build off his sophomore season with the Celtics, that would be an added bonus. The team could certainly use another big man on their roster.
Why the Spurs say yes:
The Spurs would accept this trade because they would like to upgrade their point guard position after losing Dejounte Murray to an ACL injury. That left the team with Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes.
The Spurs have yet again shocked the NBA world by starting better than most had anticipated. After losing longtime Spurs Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli, it seemingly looked like an end of an era — even more so after the team traded away All-Star Leonard.
Adding Rozier would upgrade their point guard situation. Gregg Popovich would welcome his aggressive play with open arms. He’d also be a great complementary piece with DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. The NBA has seen what a confident player Rozier can be once he’s been given the chance.
If they insert him in the starting lineup, the Spurs may find that he’s the missing piece to locking up a 22nd consecutive playoff birth.