Fansided

5 winners of the Kawhi Leonard trade

By Brad Berreman

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 5: Kawhi Leonard
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 5: Kawhi Leonard /
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Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images /

5. Jakob Poeltl

Playing behind Jonas Valanciunas, Poeltl has started just four games and averaged 15.8 minutes per contest over his first two NBA seasons. He did get a slight uptick in playing time last year, while playing all 82 games, and his per-36 minute output (13.4 points and 9.4 rebounds) points to his upside.

In San Antonio Poetl will find a veteran mentor in Pau Gasol, and surely more opportunity to play. Gasol started 63 games last season, but he only averaged 23.5 minutes per game and he’s 38 years old now.

Poetl is already a good defensive player, as he finished in the top-10 of the league in Defensive Box Plus-Minus (2.9; 10th) and Block Percentage (5.2 percent; sixth) last year. Landing with the Spurs, with Gasol as an influence, is sure to refine and possibly expand Poeltl’s offensive game.

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