There is no reason for Travis Schlenk to be satisfied with the way the Hawks’ roster is constructed at the center position. Reports have indicated the team has left no stone unturned trying to add a center, with Steven Adams, Andre Drummond, and Dewayne Dedmon as rumored players of interest. And today, Michael Scotto of Bleacher Report indicated the Hawks also expressed trade interest in Jakob Poeltl earlier this season.
Poeltl would be a nice addition to Atlanta’s youthful core. He is a former lottery pick that was dealt to the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard/Demar Derozan deal last summer and is still 24 years old. He has played limited minutes early in his career, but his contributions go much further than the stat sheet shows. He offers great size down low at 7’1″, and is a well above average ball screener, rebounder, and defender. This checks all the boxes the Hawks desperately need from that spot.
With that being said, Poeltl is a young player that will require further assets than simply expiring contracts. The Spurs are high on his long-term potential and are not loaded at the center position either.
One way or another, the Hawks will have a new center on the roster on Opening Night of the 2020 season, whether that is a guy like James Wiseman, a player acquired via trade, or free agency. However, more surprisingly, the Hawks seem to be attempting to accelerate their winning before this season is over, even if it means parting ways with future assets.
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