Quote:
Originally Posted by The Big Chill
They need to surround Barnes with shooters. I wouldn’t want to bring back any C who can’t shoot, like Ayton or Poeltl. Both are good at what they do, but I don’t think they are the right fit.
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I actually like Poeltl a lot as a fit for the Raptors. Their big problem on offense is inconsistency. They have no ability to generate high-percentage two-point shots, so when they get into a drought they just try and shoot themselves out of it and usually fail to do so. A sure-handed screen-and-roll big would help them a lot more in that regard than a primarily stretch C who will be subject to the same inconsistency as every other 3-point shooter on the team. Siakam and Barnes both do a great job generating open 3s for other players, mostly out of the high-post; Poeltl either setting up in the low-post or acting as the primary screener (2nd in the league in screen-assists last year) doesn't negatively impact that spacing.
Don't get me wrong, if we could get a rim-protecting stretch C who's also a 60% finisher around the hoop, that would be amazing too. But those guys are super-hard to come by and the Raptors can't afford another season without a rim-protector. I don't like Poeltl as a primary trade return here... but as a rotation piece splitting minutes at C with Precious, I think that makes the Raptors a vastly improved team. (Ayton brings a similar skillset except with less rim protection, much higher salary, and an unwillingness to be a roleplayer, so I'm not a fan of targetting him.)