Huge details about the future of Jakob Poeltl’s Spurs

As soon as the San Antonio Spurs entered the NBA season, winning five of their first seven games, they have fallen back to Earth. San Antonio lost 16 of their next 17 games and plummeted in the standings, which seemed to be their goal going into the season anyway.

Even with the three-game winning streak they’re on, the Spurs are still in the bottom five of the league in terms of records.

As a result, many people expect the Spurs to continue to be sellers when it comes to making trades in the coming weeks and months. An off-season blockbuster was completed when San Antonio traded All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari and draft picks.

There are still several veterans on the roster that are turning heads. Contenders ask for Josh Richardson as his two-way play is a perfect addition to many rosters. Sharpshooter Doug McDermott is also an intriguing target as an elite floorspacer, but his contract, which expires after this season, is a holdup for some teams.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jakob Poeltl & San Antonio Spurs Updates

That duo was targeted by the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package built around Russell Westbrook and a protected first-round pick. San Antonio turned that down because they wanted an unprotected choice to take over Westbrook’s contract.

But the player who could have the biggest market is Jakob Poeltl. The imminent unrestricted free agent was great for the Spurs, turning it into one of the best defensive centers in the NBA and bringing efficiency on offense. As shared by Michael Scotto on HoopsHypePoeltl has a chance to become the most sought after center in the league.

“Jakob Poeltl could join Myles Turner as the top centers in the trade market if San Antonio decides its projected free agency market will be too high this summer. The most San Antonio could have offered was a four-year, $58 million extension, but the two sides failed to settle before the season. With the lowest payroll in the league, San Antonio will have enough capacity to keep him. Teams looking to upgrade the center before the deadline will closely monitor Poeltl’s potential availability.”

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jakob Poeltl & San Antonio Spurs Updates

The asking price is reportedly very high as the Spurs are seeking multiple first-round picks in exchange for the 27-year-old center. San Antonio intends to meet their asking price, as they won’t just trade it to the highest bidder before the deadline.

That may be in part because there is a mutual interest in continuing the collaboration. Poeltl reportedly wouldn’t mind staying with the Spurs and San Antonio believes he would be a perfect fit alongside Victor Wembanyama, the crown jewel of the 2023 NBA Draft class that teams are looking for.