Fischer: Celtics not in on Jakob Poeltl trade talks

It’s no secret that beginning this season with out Robert Williams III has harm the Boston Celtics in additional methods than one. Certain, the Celtics have survived his absence on the offensive finish. As of Tuesday, they nonetheless have the best offensive rating (118.1) in NBA history via 29 video games. However Williams — who has but to play this season attributable to a knee damage however is reportedly cleared to play whenever he feels ready to do so — is not any offensive slouch; maybe he’d provide offensive rebounding, subsequently extra probabilities to attain. It’s on protection that they’ve been most impacted. Whereas Boston’s protection is tied for ninth-best in the league this season, it was the NBA’s best defense last season, with a stout 106.2 defensive score.

Regardless of lacking Williams and spending the start of their 2022-23 marketing campaign with out a constant, dependable beginning middle, the Celtics don’t appear to be available in the market for essentially the most talked about middle on the commerce market, San Antonio massive man Jakob Poeltl. According to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer, the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls look to be consumers on the deadline and are significantly all for Poeltl, whereas “the league-best Celtics don’t seem very energetic within the early commerce chatter across the league” regardless of having been linked to Poeltl in the past.

Photograph by Adam Glanzman/Getty Photographs

Fischer goes on to notice that Poeltl’s “future may very properly stay in San Antonio. Re-signing seems to be an choice he’ll strongly contemplate if the deadline passes and Poeltl hasn’t modified groups.” He writes that league executives anticipate Poeltl’s subsequent contract to fall between $15 and $25 million per yr, and the Spurs might not be able to affording the highest finish of that value vary. The Celtics, fairly probably, could possibly be balking on the thought of including a probably expensive-yet-limited massive to their ranks, particularly given the extension they signed Williams to in August of 2021.

Or maybe they’re simply snug enjoying the likes of Luke Kornet and Blake Griffin as twin middle choices whereas ready on Williams’ ever-approaching return. Neither Kornet nor Griffin has been significantly spectacular on both finish total this season, however each have upside as a backup. With Al Horford on the sidelines, they’ve each been tasked with extra duty (to not point out minutes) recently. Griffin, particularly, has answered the decision.

The latest recipient of the excessive honor of CelticsBlog Player of the Week has performed in every of the staff’s final 5 video games — his longest stretch of constant time this yr — and through that point, he’s averaging 9.2 factors on 51.6 % capturing, seven rebounds, and 23.6 minutes per sport.

It may all boil all the way down to belief in Williams and his well being shifting ahead. To commerce for an expiring massive like Poeltl can be one factor, however for him to carry out properly and for the Celtics to later decide to him could possibly be a nasty look, given the staff’s long-term dedication to Williams. There’s additionally Horford’s two-year extension and the approaching restricted free company of Grant Williams to think about. Would Poeltl merely be a rental for this season or would re-signing him this summer season be a precedence?

In fact, although, we’re getting forward of ourselves. In any case, the Celtics have been linked to Poeltl extra so when he was their thought of a preeminent backup. He’s spent this season additional proving that he’s something however a beginning massive, one who may simply contribute to a contender on the drop of a hat. His 12.9 points on 64 percent shooting and 9.9 rebounds per game this season don’t warrant bench minutes; Boston’s lack of involvement in commerce talks with San Antonio may simply be about the perfect match for Poeltl, nothing extra.

Both approach, it seems that the Celtics are standing pat. And with the NBA’s best record, plus one of last season’s Defensive Player of the Year contenders nearing his return to motion, who can blame them?