San Antonio Spurs: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA offseason

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 25, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

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2. A pivot is coming

Despite a deep and fun roster, there are some complications regarding the team’s ceiling. The front office knows its limitations and needs to take precautionary steps to account for this.

While DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge can keep the team competitive, their times as Spurs are likely coming to an end. Neither player is capable of leading a team to a championship, and both of them have outs in their contract after 2020.

DeRozan has a player option for the 2020-21 season, which he is unlikely to accept. Aldridge, on the other hand, only has $7 million guaranteed for 2020-21 until June 29, though a 15 percent trade kicker exists.

If a team comes to San Antonio with a good offer for either player, the front office has to consider it. DeRozan is easier to sell because of his age, and several teams still have work to do to truly compete. Also, a contender could replicate what the Raptors did for Marc Gasol, putting a finishing touch on its lineup with Aldridge.

Trading either player for outright assets isn’t the Spurs Way, but that mantra has been compromised in recent years. To avoid losing leverage as they did in the Kawhi Leonard trade, they have to be proactive this time around.

This is not a persuasion to jump ship and trade one or both of the two stars. But if the right deal comes along, they have to do their due diligence.

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