Spurs and the NBA Trade Deadline: Sound & Fury Likely Signifying Nothing
Thursday at 2 p.m. central time marks the NBA’s trade deadline. Last year the San Antonio Spurs actually made a move! You probably remember they traded Nando De Colo for Austin Daye in a last minute move. The year before they reportedly tried really hard to get J.J. Reddick and trade DeJuan Blair. The year before that they famously brought back Stephen Jackson. So it’s not like they don’t do stuff. They’re active on the phones, they’re just generally pretty good about not leaking anything out beforehand. And they don’t do blockbusters (and that obviously doesn’t apply to just the trade deadline).
So let’s rule out a blockbuster. No Goran Dragic trade. No Brook Lopez trade. Rule those out although I find the Brook Lopez trade particularly fun even if the Spurs would become the slowest front court in history. Is there a move out there to make? Before we answer that question we needed to figure out which Spurs would actually be available should something come up. Here are some definitely available to bubble guys.
Marco Belinelli: Due to his salary, his skill set and the fact that he’s on an expiring deal, I’d say he’s the most available Spur. His scoring is needed off the bench, but his defense can be a hinderance if he’s not making shots. You’d like to have him, but he’s not totally necessary. Plus, he and Patty Mills’ returning from injury pretty much has destroyed Cory Joseph’s minutes. Not saying Joseph’s the best of the three, but he’s turned into the best two way player of the three. If Patty’s hitting, Marco becomes less important and if you can upgrade at backup small forward then you consider moving him. But he now knows the system and losing him, Manu Ginobili and Patty Mills running around the backcourt together would be a big bummer.
Cory Joseph: He’s Tony Parker insurance so I think he’s more on the bubble of available than definitely available. However, he’s a restricted free agent this summer, he’s played really well this season and the Spurs have two point guards locked into long term deals. They’re not overpaying for Cory Joseph to return and if Joseph doesn’t know his role on the team is going to grow, I can’t imagine him wanting to stay. Plenty of teams need a backup point guard and teams might put extra value in having CoJo’s restricted rights. I don’t think he’s going anywhere but I could see a situation where the Spurs want to get value for him before losing him outright and know that moving him to a team that offers more playing time is what’s best for Joseph.
Aron Baynes: Well he’s officially the fourth big man in the rotation at the moment. He’s even gotten some starts, which is random since everyone’s healthy. Why isn’t Tiago Splitter starting? Maybe it’s because they like Splitter playing with Ginobili and crew more. Maybe it’s because for whatever reason, the Splitter-Duncan duo hasn’t quite clicked like last season (I don’t think that’s it). Or they’re doing a little Aron Baynes showcasing. Teams have to know he can play against starters. That’s a dumb theory, but trying to predict a Spurs trade is well, dumb. So again, on the bubble.
Patty Mills: Bubble-ish. I think they like his energy, what a great teammate he is and his fearlessness. I don’t even think they care that much about his regular season productivity. He just needs to be ready for the playoffs. To borrow a phrase from Bill Simmons, I think he’s worth more to his current team than the ones that would theoretically pursue him.
Jeff Ayres: I think he’s very available, but no one’s seen enough of him to offer anything worth any value.
Tiago Splitter: I don’t really think he’s going anywhere, but his contract and the position he plays means teams could use him and he’d have to be a part of almost any trade involving a $10 million plus player. But his defense, screen setting and passing are so valuable to the Spurs, they’d have to be getting a big of equal value back if they want to make another title run in the West.
That’s it, that’s the list I think. Two definitely available and a bunch of not really available guys. One thing to consider though. The Spurs have an open roster space if they don’t sign Reggie Williams for the rest of the season. They have their first round draft pick and some prospects overseas, namely Davis Bertans. Their first round pick hold slightly more value now because it’s not the last pick of the round and Bertans is one of the best shooters in Europe. Those aren’t bad pot sweeteners. But you’d still be looking at matching salaries and potentially giving up the best chance you have to draft young, cheap talent. I don’t anticipate a move, but we almost never do. What would they be looking for in return? I’d say a back up wing that can spell Kawhi and give the Spurs more size. Gerald Green wouldn’t be bad, nor would Arron Afflalo but standing pat, relying on chemistry and a team that was a buzzsaw come playoff time isn’t a bad idea either. 48 Minutes of Hell will bring you any updates as the day progresses.
