Former Spurs center is falling apart with no signs of recovery

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Jakob Poeltl's career has taken a turn for the worse. The former Spurs center spent five years in San Antonio but was traded to Toronto in February 2023 for Khem Birch, a 2024 protected first-round pick, and two second-rounders (2023, 2025).

Now, according to Marc Stein, the Raptors are ready to move on after resisting trade offers for the Austrian big man over the past two seasons.

Poeltl has never been an offensive powerhouse, but that's not what he's there for. He's there for defense and rebounding. His occasional dunks or touch floaters were an added asset. However, he must be on the floor to deliver those benefits, and the former Spur, affectionately referred to as Blockob, has struggled to do that. Jakob hasn't reached 60 games played in his last few seasons.

Poeltl has struggled to stay healthy since leaving the Spurs

Poeltl was drafted to the Canadian-based franchise before being shipped to the 210 in the Kawhi Leonard trade that brought DeMar DeRozan to the city. Deebo was the grand prize of the deal, but Jakob was the hidden gem. Spurs Nation loves a big man willing to do the hustle work, and the 7'1" ex-Utah Ute did just that.

He wasn't nearly as skilled a paint protector as Victor Wembanyama (who is?), but he was the best the Silver and Black had for years, and he did an admirable job. He was reliable.

Poeltl played 77 games for the Spurs in his first season with the team, but he hasn't reached that number since. Things weren't bad in SA, though. 66 games were the fewest he ever played for Coach Popovich, not counting the 46 he spent in uniform before being traded back to the Raptors before the 2023 trade deadline.

However, in his first year back with the team that drafted him, he only suited up for 50 contests and 57 the year after that. This season, Toronto has played 44 games, but their rim-protecting big man has only seen the floor 21 times.

He's out of the lineup right now due to a back strain and hasn't played since December 15. Back and foot problems are a big man's worst nightmare.

Some team will need a 7-footer who can run the floor and protect the basket. Players are getting larger, and guards attack the paint more viciously than ever, so that role is important. But if he can't find a way to keep himself in the game, Poeltl, on the other side of 30 years old, will quickly find himself as an NBA afterthought, and that would be a travesty for such a great guy.