Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridg (Photo : REUTERS)
The San Antonio Spurs are prepared to lose an important member of their recent championship team for a chance to sign LaMarcus Aldridge this summer. According to league insiders, the Spurs are willing to trade Brazilian center Tiago Splitter to create enough cap room in signing Aldridge, who is considered the best big man available in the free-agency season.
Aldridge, who averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season via ESPN Stats, will become an unrestricted free-agent this summer with front-office executives expecting him to bolt out from the Blazers for a better shot at an NBA title elsewhere.
Multiple teams, including big market ball clubs, have already expressed strong interest in Aldridge. The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks are willing to offer a lucrative contract for Aldridge, while Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs are also believed in the running for the Texan-native All-Star.
In a report by ESPN correspondent Marc Stein, the Spurs have emerged as the front-runner for the All-Star. San Antonio is expected to have a $23 million cap room this offseason, but that number could dwindle down if Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili decide to return next season. Danny Green, who has been a big piece of the Spurs' recent success, will also hit the market this summer and would probably demand a lucrative deal as well.
"One candidate could be LaMarcus Aldridge, given what league sources describe as strong mutual interest between the All-Star power forward and Spurs officials to explore every opportunity to bring Aldridge back to Texas this summer."
Stein said he was told the Spurs are devising a plan that would enable them to accommodate Aldridge's max contract, sign Kawhi Leonard to a max extension and retain the service of Tim Duncan, and it involves dealing away Tiago Splitter.
"One scenario on the personnel grapevine gaining steam is the notion that the Spurs could elect to explore the possibility of dealing away Tiago Splitter to create more financial flexibility."
"Splitter has two years left on his contract valued at just under $17 million and is quietly regarded as a key contributor in San Antonio given how well he fits as a frontcourt sidekick next to Duncan. But if you're the Spurs -- and if the increasingly loud rumbles about Aldridge having San Antonio as the preferred destination atop his wish list prove true -- examining Splitter's trade market might suddenly become unavoidable."
Splitter, who averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season, has been a steady fixture in the Spurs' starting lineup over the last three years, earning a four-year, $36 million contract last summer.
However, Splitter is already 30-years old and his skillset doesn't show that he can take his game to another level and fill in the void to be left by Duncan when the Hall of Famer hangs up his jersey for good. On the other hand, Aldridge is at the peak of his career, and based on his numbers this season, he's expected to continue racking up double-doubles for the next 4 or 5 more years.
After winning five titles with Duncan and Greg Popovich, the Spurs are determined to prolong their winning tradition with Leonard and Aldridge leading the way. Although there's no certainty if they can make splash this offseason, the Spurs nevertheless has the blueprint for continued success.
