3 Ways the Spurs re-signing Jakob Poeltl would benefit Wembanyama

Prior to trading former starting center Jakob Poeltl at the trade deadline, the San Antonio Spurs had big plans for him. According to a previous report by Spurs Talk's LJ Ellis, the Spurs planned to pair Poeltl with Victor Wembanyama well before they actually landed the number one pick.

Instead, they opted to deal him to the Toronto Raptors for a haul including a first-round pick (top-six protected in 2024 and 2025) as well as two second-round picks. While that seemed like a good deal at the time, a new report suggests that Toronto may have a tough time keeping Poeltl this summer.

If true, it could mean the Poeltl deal will be even better for the Spurs since it would worsen the Raptors. Better yet, the Spurs could be the team that signs Poeltl, allowing them to have their cake and eat it too. After all, Toronto appears to be on the brink of a rebuild, and he doesn't seem willing to be a part of another rebuild. Even if he is, Toronto may not want to sign a 27-year-old to a 4-year deal likely worth at least $80 million.

That would open the door for the Spurs, who will have more than enough cap space to bring him back. With Wembanyama soon to be in the fold, they will also quickly pivot from their rebuild to title contention, and signing Poeltl would be key to that transition. With this in mind, let's look at several ways re-signing Poeltl would affect the Spurs, starting with a roster shakeup.