The San Antonio Spurs are famed for their ability to consistently compete at the highest level. Since drafting Tim Duncan, the Spurs have always made it to the playoffs and were able to win the NBA title on five occasions.
Their consistency is largely due to their front office’s ability to plan ahead and restock or retool the team ahead of time – a skill that has saved them the task of having to undergo a major rebuild.
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For the past few seasons, the spotlight has been on Duncan and Manu Ginobili. With both in their late 30s, it is widely expected that the duo will soon be announcing their retirement. The Spurs were able to sign LaMarcus Aldridge during the offseason – a player touted to be Duncan’s replacement once he retires.
Following the Spurs’ trend of retooling on the fly, their next focus should be on the youngest member of the team’s Big Three – Tony Parker. Despite being the “youngest” of the trio, Parker is 33 and has shown signs of aging in recent years. Most recently, Parker seemed much slower in last season’s first round clash against the Los Angeles Clippers – a series the Spurs lost in seven games. He averaged just 10.9 points and 3.6 assists per game that series, and shot a poor 36.3 percent from the field.
While many will be quick to point out that Parker was struggling with an ankle injury that series, the truth is that Parker’s game, like Ginobili’s, will age less gracefully than Duncan’s. With most of his success coming from his ability to run the pick-and-roll and attack the rim, the decline of Parker’s athleticism will severely reduce his effectiveness.
At 33, Parker is tied for the oldest starting point guard in the league (the other is Jose Calderon). The Spurs have already had to resort to hiding Parker on the defensive end, especially when he goes up against more athletic point guards. With Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green being the defensive maestros they are, hiding Parker isn’t usually a tough task, but there will be situations where all three perimeter spots are difficult defensive covers.
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There comes a point where Parker’s contributions on the offensive end simply cannot cover for his defensive failings. And for the Spurs, it is vital that they stay ahead of the curve and handle the situation before it’s too late.
For those that need more proof, just look at Parker’s recent showing at EuroBasket. In the eight games he’s played so far, Parker is averaging 11.9 points and 4.3 assists per game. Contrast that with the 19.0/3.3 and 22.1/4.4 splits he’s had in the previous two EuroBasket tournaments and the drop in performance is telling. Typically, Parker has been able to feast on the less talented international scene, but he hasn’t had quite the vintage-Parker performance that he’s been known for all tourney long.
Right now, the Spurs have Patty Mills as Parker’s interim replacement. Mills is an exciting player off the bench who provides that spark when Parker isn’t on top form, but isn’t quite starting caliber yet. There’s the chance that Mills could improve, but even the most diehard of fans will find it hard to argue for Mills as a full-time starter.
With the addition of LaMarcus Aldridge and the continued growth of Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs will be a fearsome unit to contend with next season. Aldridge will likely replace Duncan in the future, and Leonard could end up being the new face of the franchise. The next step will be to find Parker’s successor.
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