Spurs center Jakob Poeltl is on the trading block

After losing 11 in a row, the Spurs are ready to deal. They're just not in a hurry.

According to Spurs reporter LJ Ellis, San Antonio is "open for business" on the trade market. Specifically they're listening to offers on their 27-year-old center, Jakob Poeltl. And two teams at least are quite interested.

The Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors have been in contact, but San Antonio reportedly is asking for two first-round picks in any deal for the Austrian big man, who is averaging 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds. And the Spurs want those picks lightly protected. So far, that offer hasn't come in.

Toronto drafted Poeltl with the No. 9 pick in 2016, then sent him to San Antonio two years later in the Kawhi Leonard trade. Ellis reports that the Raptors have been pursuing their old center since last year's trade deadline, but Toronto's offers have only contained one first-rounder. By all accounts, the Raptors loved Poeltl - he just wasn't Kawhi Leonard.

So far, Toronto has been making do by playing 6'9" Pascal Siakam at center, and leaning on rookie Christian Koloko, while 6'8" Precious Achiuwa remains out with injury. They have a lot of talent and not a lot of size: Poeltl provides both. Toronto also has all of its own future first-round picks, so they do have the capital for a trade.

The other team in the mix for Poeltl is the Warriors, who have been looking for answers in the front court all season. While Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are solid, the backups have struggled. Currently, the team is using veteran JaMychal Green and a collection of players born in the 21st century as backup bigs. Trading for Poeltl would ideally solve two problems for them: Front court defense and James Wiseman.

Wiseman has been a disappointment in his second NBA season (he missed all of 2021-22), spending seven games in the G League. He also makes just slightly more than Poeltl, so a trade would save the heavily-taxed Warriors a few million dollars. But the Spurs supposedly aren't interested in Wiseman - who is set to make over $12 million next year - or second-year forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Any Poeltl deal would cost the Warriors two first-rounders, and/or second-year wing Moses Moody. The Warriors owe Memphis their 2024 first, so they could only trade 2026 and 2028 first-rounders. Which might be preferable to San Antonio, given that Steph Curry will be 40 in 2028.

Two first-rounders for a backup big man? It's a stiff price to pay, especially for a team that seems to play its best with Draymond Green at center. The Spurs appear willing to hold Poeltl and possibly resign him this summer if their price isn't met, so it might take an injury in Toronto or SF to force the issue. But enough teams love Poeltl that it would be a surprise if he's in a Spurs uniform on Valentine's Day.