Celtics Source Throws Shade: Poeltl Trade an "Absolute Disaster" for Raptors.
The Boston Celtics currently hold a commanding 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. While much of the credit goes to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's offensive explosion, some Celtics sources are taking a subtle victory lap over a trade they made two seasons ago. According to Andrew Hughes of [Hardwood Houdini], a Celtics source has labeled the Toronto Raptors' trade of Jakob Poeltl an "absolute disaster" for the franchise.
Poeltl, a bruising 7-foot center, was shipped to San Antonio for a package including a first-round pick (later used on Devin Vassell) in February 2022. At the time, the Raptors were in a state of flux, having lost Kyle Lowry in free agency and facing questions about their long-term direction. Poeltl, a reliable rim protector and rebounder, seemed expendable with Pascal Siakam emerging as a strong defender down low.
The trade initially appeared to benefit both teams. The Raptors received a valuable first-round pick to potentially jumpstart their rebuild, while the Spurs acquired a young, developing center to bolster their interior defense. However,with the benefit of hindsight, the trade looks far more lopsided in favor of Boston.
Poeltl has blossomed in San Antonio, averaging a double-double (15.9 points, 12.2 rebounds) this season while anchoring a top-10 defense. His ability to clog the paint and finish lobs has been a perfect complement to DeMar DeRozan's midrange mastery. The Spurs, despite missing the playoffs this year, appear to have a cornerstone piece to build around.
Meanwhile, the Raptors haven't quite found their replacement for Poeltl's presence. Chris Boucher, acquired in a separate deal from the Warriors, has provided some rim protection but lacks Poeltl's size and rebounding prowess. Toronto's defense, once a hallmark of their championship run in 2019, has sputtered this season, ranking a pedestrian 18th in defensive rating.
The Celtics source's comments are likely to sting Raptors fans, especially considering their current playoff struggles.Toronto, despite boasting a talented young core including Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet, has been bounced in the first round in both seasons since trading Poeltl. Their lack of a rim-protecting presence has been a glaring weakness, exploited by teams with strong interior scorers.
This situation raises questions about the Raptors' front office decision-making. While acquiring a first-round pick is always valuable, the long-term impact of losing a player like Poeltl can be significant. The success of teams like the Miami Heat, anchored by Bam Adebayo's defensive dominance, highlights the importance of having a reliable center in today's NBA.
The Celtics, meanwhile, can revel in the shrewdness of their trade. Not only did they free up cap space to pursue other targets, but they also weakened a potential Eastern Conference rival. With Poeltl patrolling the paint for the Spurs, the path to Banner 18 seems a little clearer for the Celtics. Whether this is truly an "absolute disaster" for the Raptors remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: losing Poeltl has undoubtedly set them back in their quest for another championship.
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