With a big-time rebuild soon to be on the horizon this upcoming season, the San Antonio Spurs are determined to squeeze the value of their remaining assets.
According to LJ Ellis of Spurs Talk, both Jakob Poeltl and Josh Richardson are most commonly involved in trade talks of the Spurs. As such, the club’s asking price “remains high” for them, with Poeltl being viewed to absorb two first-round picks and Richardson for a first-rounder.
Added by Ellis, a team insider has noted that San Antonio is willing to hold the two even until next season’s trade deadline, if that’s what it takes to fulfill their demands.
“There’s no rush,” said the source of trade talks around Poeltl. “It has to be the right deal.”
As the development of their young players and future flexibility are now the looming priorities of the Spurs following the blockbuster Dejounte Murray trade, Poeltl and Richardson don’t fit very well to the timeline that they are about to enter.
Poeltl, 26, is coming off a career year for the silver and black, carving 13.5 points average to go along with 9.3 boards, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks in an impressive 61.8 percent shooting for 68 total games. As he bloomed into a refined, starting center, several suitors may take a gamble to acquire the Austrian to fill their holes in that frontcourt spot.
On the other hand, Richardson remains a serviceable offensive swingman who got 10.2 points, 2.8 boards, 1.5 assists in 41.5 percent shooting in three-point territory in his 2021-2022 splits with both the Spurs and Boston Celtics.
Both veterans are about to approach the 2022-2023 campaign as a contract year, a much more reasonable intent for the Spurs to finally cut their ties with them on a reasonable return.
