San Antonio Spurs: 2015-16 Season Outlook
Three Key Storylines
1. How Will LaMarcus Aldridge Fit?
The reason so many people are ready to anoint the San Antonio Spurs as the future representatives of the Western Conference for the 2016 NBA Finals? This acquisition right here.
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By landing Aldridge with a four-year, $84 million max contract, San Antonio has somehow made last year’s title contender even better, securing the long-term AND short term future of the franchise no matter how well Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are able to play this season.
San Antonio’s long-term replacement for Duncan at the 4 is now a 30-year-old who averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game last season while expanding his range to three-point territory.
The loss of Splitter, which was required to make this happen, hurts the Spurs on the defensive end. After all, the reason the Phoenix Suns’ Aldridge pitch was so strong was they came into the meeting with a bonafide defensive presence at the 5 in Tyson Chandler.
So that's Splitter, Joseph, Belinelli and Baynes out the door. Aldridge could have come at a much higher price.
— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneyNBA) July 6, 2015
In San Antonio, Aldridge may have to log time at center, a position he’s not as comfortable with and nowhere near as suited for given his mediocrity on the defensive end. However, any qualms about San Antonio’s defense or their loss of depth should be dismissed once you remember that this team, which was considered a title contender last season, just added one of the best three power forwards in the game.
Even as Aldridge heads into his 30s, San Antonio’s starting five is now as good as any in the NBA. So even though it remains to be seen how his one-on-one skills mesh with the Spurs’ patented ball movement, LA provides them with a bailout option on offense and plenty of rebounding on the other end.
Those damn Spurs just always have the answer to the question, “How will they remain relevant in the West again this year?”. This summer, it was LaMarcus Aldridge.
Next: Storyline: What Does Tony Parker Have Left?