Mid-Season Trades The Spurs Should Seriously Consider
The San Antonio Spurs are widely expected to remain quiet at the mid-season trade deadline. But should they?
I have written before about some of the players I’d fantasize about wearing the Silver and Black. While those musings were mostly tongue-in-cheek, and the San Antonio Spurs are notorious for not doing any deals around the mid-season, there are some festering issues that should be addressed.
The Spurs are known for playing chess instead of checkers, and the potential trades that the Spurs should consider would be thinking ahead.
Disclaimer: I am not a basketball stats person, nor do I play one on TV. I am not going to write about who to trade for such deals to happen, cap room, aprons, and the like; I will leave that to basketball minds who actually like that kind of stuff, and are much more adept at it than I (Hi, Eric Pincus).
What I will do is list the problematic positions of late, and what the Spurs could do about it before 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 18. Keep in mind that the focus is on the postseason and beyond, not the remainder of the regular season.
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I will say this: yes, the Spurs are paying luxury tax for this season (the price for acquiring LaMarcus Aldridge) but come on. The last time they had to pay the tax was … what? 2007? In for a penny, in for a pound. The franchise is currently worth $1.15 billion, so they can handle the freight.
This is Texas, y’all! Go big or go home.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to rock with me for a minute and follow me down this rabbit hole.
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Ready? Swallowed the red pill? Then let’s go!
Backup point guard
In case you haven’t heard, franchise point guard Tony Parker has been battling hip and hamstring ailments all season. When he’s on, he’s on; when he’s not, the system suffers. He attacks in the paint, where he is sorely needed; remove that and the Spurs end up on the wrong end of another blowout (*ahem* Golden State and Cleveland).
A more viable backup is needed, so as to not tax Patty Mills (who is really a shooting guard) and also in light of Manu Ginobili‘s absence. Manu is a 2-guard as well, but his playmaking skills transcend position. Second-year player Ray McCallum is a point guard, and he’s good, but still coming along.
He did a respectable showing when Parker was out, but I would be concerned about leaning on him heavily as the postseason approaches.
Solution: Shabazz Napier, Orlando Magic
The 411: I have been a fan of Napier since his four-year tenure at the University of Connecticut. He is fast, agile, and has good court vision. He is a legitimate floor general who can shoot, and has the personality to adapt to The Spurs Way with little problem.
The Miami Heat were not a good fit for him (he would have been better off staying with the Charlotte Hornets, who originally drafted him), and he is currently languishing on the bench in Orlando as the third option. He would thrive in a more structured system, and he could learn a lot from Parker. Word on the curb is that he could be had, since there is a glut at the PG position in Orlando.
HEB Commercial Potential: High. We’ve seen that he can be very animated and opinionated …
… which could bring some more energy to the commercials.
Pocket Watch: Napier is in the second year of his rookie contract, which is very pocket-friendly.
Backup Center/Power Forward
Spurs captain and pillar Tim Duncan missed eight games due to a sore right knee. I saw an old photo of him in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and noticed that he wore a flexible fabric knee brace on his left knee. He later underwent surgery on that same knee to repair his ACL, and he now wears a custom metal brace on that knee.
Duncan has been sporting a flexible fabric knee brace on his right knee since the beginning of the season. Forgive me if I am more than slightly concerned.
His knee notwithstanding, the Spurs suffered while he was out. Between missing his leadership and his craftiness around the basket, the Spurs were a bit of a hot mess. Duncan can still get it done, but it pays to have stronger insurance. Boban Marjanovic is still learning the NBA game, so he’s not as reliable in the low post.
Aldridge isn’t as strong defensively (rebounds are one thing; blocks are a whole different animal); Kyle Anderson is too thin to hold his own handily against bigger and more physical players; and Kawhi Leonard can’t do everything.
Solution A: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
The 411: I just really like him for the Spurs. Granted, his production has fallen off a bit this season, but he still averages 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He also shoots 78 percent from the charity stripe.
Horford will turn 30 this summer, but reduced minutes from his current 31.6 per game will help stretch out his career. He’s good insurance moving forward as Duncan nears his eventual retirement.
Horford is seeking more off-court business opportunities if he is to leave the ATL; he may find what he is looking for in a Spanish-speaking, family-friendly market such as San Antonio (Horford hails from the Dominican Republic and is married with children).
It wouldn’t take him long at all to acclimate to Spurs system, since the Hawks run a version of it (head coach Mike Budenholzer was a Spurs assistant coach under head coach Gregg Popovich for 17 years).
HEB Commercial Potential: High. Horford comes across as very personable, and he and Ginobili could take the Spanish versions of the commercials to another level. I’m in.
Pocket Watch: Horford is in the last year of his current contract and about to be an unrestricted free agent in line for a max deal. BUT, since teammate Tiago Splitter (a former Spur) is now out for season following hip surgery, the Hawks may up the ante to move him.
Solution B: Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
The 411: Real talk: aging players do well in San Antonio, so one should not trip on the fact that Gasol will turn 35 years old this summer. He’s averaging 10.8 rebounds and two blocks per game this season.
He is a veteran that is committed to winning, and he’s never been considered a locker room cancer, so he’d slide right into the group with no problems.
I also don’t see him fumbling with the Spurs plays (if he can thrive within Phil Jackson‘s Triangle, and survive Tom Thibodeau’s grinding defense, the Spurs system would be a cakewalk).
He is a philanthropist, so the many agencies that could use a check would be thrilled for Gasol to set up shop in the Alamo City. He’d probably get a kick out of Tux ‘N Tennies.
HEB Commercial Potential: High. He’s so charming, and he has great hair. As another native Spanish speaker, he could be another choice to team up with Ginobili for the Spanish versions of the commercials.
Pocket Watch: Gasol is also in line to be a UFA this summer, as he will probably decline his player option for the Bulls. Maybe could be had on shorter deal in exchange for greater championship hopes (hey, it worked for David West, although with Gasol’s two rings, the urgency to collect more hardware may be more muted).
Solution C: Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
The 411: Whiteside is a premium rim protector, but a bit of a problem child. He gets into foul trouble often and early, and makes poor decisions.
But he’s only (a young) 25 years old. Some immersion in The Spurs Way (with timely boots up the bum from Pop & Co.) would facilitate his attitude adjustment. Whiteside x Marjanovic = Twin Towers 3.0. It could work.
HEB Commercial Potential: To Be Determined. I’ve not seen him talk much off the court, so I don’t know how he’d react in a commercial-shooting environment. He likes to flex on the court, though, so the showmanship is there.
Pocket Watch: Whiteside is in line for major payday this summer, and the Heat can’t afford to keep him since they don’t have his Bird rights. Plus, his on-court antics have him being shopped. Heat president Pat Riley is wily (see what I did there?), but something could probably be worked out.
Like I said, the chances of any of these trades happening are probably slim to none, but this is my two cents. Then again, general manager R.C. Buford and Popovich never show their hand; stranger things have happened.
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The trade deadline approacheth. Stay tuned.