Why Swinging For The Fences Is A Good Idea

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As you’ve read on various sites, the San Antonio Spurs are either at or near the front of the line in the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes. It’s different territory for the Spurs and their fan base. All-Stars don’t put San Antonio high on their list & the Spurs rarely have cap space to make a proper sales pitch to Superstar X. However, everything has to go just right for the Spurs to make this happen and might mean losing a key piece or two, which makes fans nervous. Still, making a strong play for Aldridge (or Marc Gasol, though that appears unlikely) is the right move now and for their future.

Agreeing to terms with Kawhi Leonard is priority number one and CBS’ Ken Berger reports it’s a thing that’s happening and it’s going to happen quickly and quietly. Cool. Tim Duncan we think is coming back but it’s unclear for how much (the great Mike Monroe hypothesized $6 million-ish a year) and Manu Ginobili we just don’t know. The Duncan stuff I imagine gets figured out if it hasn’t been already.

The next step should be Aldridge, all due respect to the accomplishments of Danny Green. Here’s the thing, finding the role players has never been an issue for the Spurs. Whether it’s finding the veteran or developing someone like Green circa 2011, getting good role players by comparison is the easy part for the Spurs. That isn’t to say replacing Green will be easy if he can’t be re-signed but this is a chance to extend the run past the time Tim Duncan’s power cells finally runs out. You don’t pass that up if you’re San Antonio. Superstars are the hard part. You build around the superstars. We say the Spurs don’t do things that way, well that’s because they haven’t had to for the better part of two decades. Tim Duncan, then the development of Tony Parker & Manu Ginobili, now Kawhi Leonard’s drafting and development. It’s been the most unconventional run possible. But every once in a while you have to be conventional, especially when there’s no obvious mechanism other than free agency to add to the long term success of the franchise.

That’s what Aldridge brings. He takes a ton of offensive burden away from Tony Parker, who might be entering the stage of his career where he doesn’t need to be the only engine to this Spurs offense. It means Kawhi Leonard doesn’t have to work quite as hard on every possession on offense and can conserve energy on defense. His jumper is near unblockable, which is important when everything breaks down. I’d rather have an Aldridge jumper over that Tony Parker step back that makes me very nervous. Him and Duncan working the high-low post game is also something other teams are going to struggle trying to figure out how to defend.

It’s not an absolutely perfect fit though and it won’t come without collateral damage. Gaining Aldridge means losing Tiago Splitter or Danny Green or both. The Spurs know this going in and are likely so confident the gains Aldridge brings can offset that, they’re bringing the heavy hitters with them to their Wednesday meeting with LMA in LA.

The fact that Pop and Duncan is willing to court Aldridge in person shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s unclear how big an impact that will have on Aldridge, but it does show the duo understand how important he could be to the team’s future. One thing we do know is how Duncan will react if the Spurs land their prized free agent.

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  • wannabe_fake_tough_guy

    I get all what you’re saying, and I’m not disagreeing…but, are we taking LMA sight unseen? As far as health? How’s that thumb? Did he ever get surgery, I haven’t heard. What about his back? Does LMA have to undergo a rigorous physical, or would that be too “insulting”?

    Those questions aside, I have to admit that PATFO know a LOT more than me on basketball matters, and salary cap matters, etc. But this off season fills me with quite a bit of trepidation. I hate hate hate the thought of losing Patty/Danny/”healthy Tiago” (balky calf Tiago, not so much, lol) for a 30 y/o NO D PF with a historically balky back.

    Again, trusting that PATFO know their business more than I know their business.

  • Trevor Zickgraf

    I can’t imagine they’d lose all 3 and everything I’ve read is his thumb will be fine.

  • Kenneth Ferguson

    Patty has something like 2 years left on a $4 mil/year contract. He isn’t going anywhere.

  • wannabe_fake_tough_guy

    Yes, but rumors rumors rumors have the Spurs moving Patty & Tiago to clear space. Rumors, but still.

  • Tyler

    He definitely has to take a physical for insurance purposes.

  • Riotsmoke

    I know a lot of you know waaaay more than I do about the cap flexibility we have, but why couldn’t we do something like this. With all the talk about the cap exploding next year due to the TV deal, is it possible to sign Green to a $9 mill one-year deal knowing that we’re gonna pay him once the cap goes up next year? Yeah we’d possibly take a hit with the luxury tax, but if we’re intent on getting LMA and keeping the core intact, it would make total sense. Duncan comes back under his wink-wink $6 millish deal, Kawhi gets a max, LMA more than likely will command a max or just under it, Manu we get back at a huge discount (if at all) There would be some bench issues (which are undoubtedly going to crop up anyway with CoJo and Belli), but it would work financially. If Tim has the player option for next year, then we already have him, Kawhi, Patty, LMA, Tony, and Manu (possibly) locked in, then it’s only inevitable that we could give Danny the money he wants (and deserves) and we’re still retaining some flexibility. I’m just trying to envision a scenario where we don’t have to sacrifice too much to gain a ton. Everyone has to be on board with this scenario, however, and I can see injury concerns for Green possibly being a issue from him maybe not wanting to do this. I feel like I’m in the camp of “keeping Tiago and gutting the bench” rather than sacrificing a good starting center for cash purposes. The bench can be rebuilt like we’ve done in the past. I’m sure there’s holes in this, so feel free to shoot it down, but it’s an idea nonetheless….

  • Ben Ereshefsky

    My thinking with someone like Green is similar to what you suggest, with a slight modification. Why not sign him to a multi-year deal that starts low but is seriously backloaded? Then we can lock him up long-term and we won’t take a big cap hit until it skyrockets anyway. Since we own his bird rights, we could conceivably give him a verbal commitment but have him not sign the contract until after LMA (or whatever marquee free agent we get) signs. This would allow us to go over the cap to retain him.

  • Bankshot21

    brilliant.

  • Ben Ereshefsky

    Thanks! As a follow-up. Would this make sense at all for our big man situation? I am assuming we lose Tiago one way or another. Sign LMA and use the MLE on Bismark Biyambo, or if we lose out on LMA go after Greg Monroe and Biyambo? Either way it seems like it would really sure up our front line. Baynes might be expendable in either scenario too.

  • Bankshot21

    i preferred a real charge at Gasol but that seemed unlikely. Greg Monroe may even be more serviceable as a two way player than Aldridge. I share your same concerns brother. i just hope for our sake that Pop and RC are aware of all scenarios.

  • Bankshot21

    i just mentioned Greg Monroe in a reply to the first comment on here. He would actually be my second choice after Marc Gasol. even aboVe LA.

  • Tyler

    Greg Monroe is anything but a two way player. He’s not nearly as good as LA on either side of the court.

  • Tyler

    To bring LMA in at the max, we’re essentially losing Green and/or Tiago (I’m not including Diaw because I assume Tiago holds more value) and possibly Mills. Best case, we work a sign and trade so that we can retain Green or Tiago. That’s really the only way we’re opening up enough space to make everything work.

  • DorieStreet

    Unless fans wanted the status quo (bring everyone back), it’s commendable that the Spurs are going all out to get Aldridge to join the team. But with the Lakers jumping into the mix at the last minute (I never heard of their interest until the day after the draft) with the Mavericks,along with the meetings taking place in tinsel town, is giving me pause to really feel SA can close the deal.
    Fingers crossed!

  • PR Spur

    Spurs won’t have the MLE

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    I watch the Pistons. Greg Monroe is crafty from the low post, and an above average passer from midrange. But he’s not much of a cutter, screener, or defender. Non-existent jumper, when LMA is wet from midrange. He has quick hands and can board, but seriously lacks athleticism and cannot protect the rim at all. Plus he’s a black hole when he gets the ball down lown. Pass.

  • TD BestEVER

    Yeah I heard he is going back to Portland. Because why else schedule a visit with the Suns/Raptors of all people. if the Spurs and Lakers and Mavs have Max money how are they not all 3 better fits? So yeah I don’t know what to think.