6 takeaways from the San Antonio Spurs one-quarter of the way through the season
By Cal Durrett
Takeaway #4: Jakob Poeltl is really, really good.
Jakob Poeltl is now in his third full season as the Spurs’ starting center and has become one of the team’s most important players. Beginning last season, Poeltl took on a bigger role in the team’s offense, and that role has only continued to grow.
He’s a terrific finisher around the rim and has developed a nice chemistry with Keldon Johnson that has helped both players get easy buckets. He’s even expanded his range beyond five feet by incorporating a floater into his game to extend his range out to the free throw line. Add in that he’s a good passer and an excellent offensive rebounder, and Poeltl is a highly useful offensive player.
Defensively, Poeltl is the team’s anchor, and his rim protection has generally been elite. All that being said, the Spurs could look to trade him ahead of the trade deadline given his rise in value. There already appears to be a couple of potential takers for Poeltl, including both an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference playoff team.
On the other hand, he’s barely 27 and centers tend to age better than other positions, meaning he could still be a part of the Spurs’ long-term plans if they opt to re-sign him. Either way, Poeltl has evolved into a top-12 center in the NBA.