Free agency for every NBA team doesn’t begin until June 30.
Still, franchises should start identifying targets they want to pursue when the fun kicks off in three weeks.
On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus assisted the Los Angeles Lakers by creating a four-team blockbuster trade that would swap a rookie guard for a Toronto Raptors star center.
“Respectfully to Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers went into the postseason without an established starting center,” Pincus wrote Friday.
“Luka Doncic may need a lob threat, which Hayes provided well post-Dallas Mavericks trade, but the size in the Western Conference needs an appropriate counter.”
“Poeltl is not flashy, but he’s a legit 7-foot, 260-pound center who averaged 14.5 points and 62.7 percent shooting with 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.”
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“The Lakers can retain Hayes, a shared client of WME’s Bill Duffy, who represents Doncic, giving the team the lob option. L.A. would continue to target that archetype, like the ones Doncic took to the NBA Finals (Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford).”
“Still, Poeltl is an immediate upgrade, better suited with the necessary heft that Hayes doesn’t bring.”
In Pincus’ monster trade proposal, the Raptors would receive Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Smith, and Jevon Carter, the Milwaukee Bucks would receive RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Chris Boucher, Ja’Kobe Walter, Gabe Vincent and draft capital, the Lakers would receive Poeltl and Lonzo Ball, and the Chicago Bulls would receive Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Shake Milton, AJ Lawson and draft capital.
Poeltl plays for a small-market franchise, but he should be commended for playing the best basketball of his career in Year 9.
As a disciplined big man who understands his athletic limitations, Poeltl is effective in the low-post while getting defenders off their feet with shot fakes and setting legal screens before rolling hard to the rim.
The Utah product nearly averaged a double-double in 57 regular-season contests.
With Poeltl only being 29 years old and the Raptors in rebuild mode, a change of scenery would do wonders for the 7-foot frontcourt stud.
Poeltl wouldn’t dominate games in the paint like Anthony Davis did in Los Angeles, but from a stability standpoint, he’s among the safest center options for the organization.
Considering Knecht was nearly traded to the Charlotte Hornets earlier this season for Mark Williams, including him in a beneficial summer trade for Poeltl should be a legitimate possibility.
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