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San Antonio Spurs: Aaron Afflalo Could Be A Dark Horse

By Chris Walton

Mar 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Portland Trail Blazers guard Arron Afflalo (4) looks for a play as he holds the ball against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Canada Centre. The Trail Blazers beat the Raptors 113-97. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Portland Trail Blazers guard Arron Afflalo (4) looks for a play as he holds the ball against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Canada Centre. The Trail Blazers beat the Raptors 113-97. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Antonio Spurs will have plenty of free agent decisions to make in the upcoming summer. Questions surround the return of their “Big Three,” as well as bringing back their defensive pairing of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Leonard will be retained at all costs, likely receiving a max deal from the franchise.

Green, on the other hand, may take a longer look at the market and gauge his worth after resurgence over the past five seasons.

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Elliot Smith of CBSSports.com reported:

"Forward Danny Green, who will become a free agent on July 1, wants to remain with the Spurs and hopes the team can find a way to retain most of the 10 free agents on its roster, per the San Antonio Express-News.Green finished with a career-high 11.7 points this season and set the Spurs’ single-season record for 3-pointers.“I love San Antonio. The fans have always supported us, from day one,” Green said. “It sucks that we had such a special group, and things may be changing and not be the same again.”"

Right now, he’s reached the end of a three-year, $11.3 million deal. Green has made his mark as an All-Defensive swingman and knockdown shooter from long range (42.04% for his career). The time is now for a player of Green’s caliber to cash in and gain the stability that every NBA player desires. Money will certainly play a part in his decision.

Maybe the Spurs can get Green to take one of their infamous discounts. If they can’t, then the team must definitely keep their options open.

A name that may not be on San Antonio’s radar, but would certainly be a suitable fit would be none other than Aaron Afflalo. The 29-year-old guard/forward recently opted out of a $7.7 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Afflalo isn’t the 3-point shooter that Green has proven over the last two years, only shooting 33 percent compared to Green’s 41 percent during the 2014-15 season.

The one thing that he can bring the Spurs is a similar veteran presence with defensive tenacity, along with the ability to create his own shot. Added alongside Leonard, he wouldn’t be tasked with sharing the load on either end. This also could open up and lighten the loads on Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, pending his return.

A 34-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves in January shows Afflalo’s total package:

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Likely, he won’t be called on to have these kinds of games on a regular basis. Of course the Spurs offense is built upon ball movement and maximizing the best shot. One of Afflalo’s sweetest spot on the court is the corner-three where he shoots 42.5 percent for his career, according to basketball-reference.com. He’s sure to get plenty of those looks.

Injury only allowed Afflalo three games last postseason, but prior to being traded to the Trail Blazers, his stints with the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets both gave him a combined 32 games of playoff experience. While this number isn’t hefty, the sheer acquisition of a player that has been through the rigors of extended play makes for a more comfortable transition to a contender.

The money Afflalo commands is the most intriguing piece to a possible pursuit. If things don’t go as planned with Green, the team will have to sell the success that they’ve seen over the last 16 seasons, along with what may come in the future. A reasonable price for his services may be hard to come by, but if it’s a team that could do it, it’s San Antonio.

Afflalo could become a critical piece to the Spurs’ return to their championship ways. In the process, he can finally step out of the shadow of his underrated ability.

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