San Antonio Spurs: 4 Players To Target In Free Agency

Mike Conley Jr.

While Tony Parker was undoubtedly the most effective member in the Big 3 throughout their second round series with the Thunder, it was painfully obvious that the Frenchman’s best days — and days of leading this team — are behind him.

Parker had flashes of brilliance in Games 3 and 4 with scoring outputs of 19 and 22 points, respectively, but was absent more games than he was present and was turned into a defensive liability at the hands of the explosive supernova that is Russell Westbrook.

The Spurs could hold on to their dollars and simply hand the mantle from Parker to a solid backup in Patty Mills — but what better opportunity will the Spurs get to land a talented free agent who also happens to fit the San Antonio mold?

In Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, Jr., the Spurs could potentially add a floor general with the same court vision, IQ and sweet shooting stroke that Parker has brought to the table for so many years. However, what makes Conley all the more enticing is the fact that he brings something Parker lacks at his age — elite defensive capability.

Pairing Conley with a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Kawhi Leonard and a solid perimeter defender in Danny Green could make San Antonio home to the league’s best perimeter defense and help them maintain their status as the top scoring defense in the association.

Conley’s also the type of player that doesn’t need the ball to thrive as he’s a solid off-ball shooter and has elite facilitating skills, which would fit right in alongside the star duo of Leonard and forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

Adding a heady, multifaceted floor general like Conley could help the Spurs tremendously in transitioning away from Tony Parker while giving them an added competitiveness from the perimeter on both ends in the immediate future.

Next: Potential Duncan Replacement