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*Photo via USA Today
San Antonio Spurs, 55-27 (3rd Southwest Division, 6th Western Conference)
Season Summary: The Spurs defied the critics and father time once again. This group of veterans won over 50 games, which is nothing new for them.
The Spurs did it the Spur way, playing good basketball while resting players and saving their best basketball for the final stretch of the season. The Spurs went on a tear for the last month of the season, mostly thanks to the health of Defensive Player of the Year, Kawhi Leonard. When he was healthy the Spurs rolled. The Spurs ended up as the sixth seed and drew one of the toughest opponents out west in the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the end the Spurs fell short of defending their title in an epic seven game series with the Clippers that came down to the wire. Each year the question is whether the Spurs are too old, so far they have defeated father time, but how long it can continue?
Cap Space: 31.7 Million dollars
Team’s Free Agents:
Tim Duncan, Power Forward, Unrestricted Free Agent
Manu Ginobili, Shooting Guard, Unrestricted Free Agent
Danny Green, Shooting Guard, Unrestricted Free Agent
Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward, Restricted Free Agent
Marco Belinelli, Shooting Guard, Unrestricted Free Agent
Aron Baynes, Power Forward, Unrestricted Free Agent
Corey Joseph, Point Guard, Restricted Free Agent
Jeff Ayres, Power Forward, Unrestricted Free Agent
Matt Bonner, Power Forward, Unrestricted Free Agent
Who Stays Who Goes:
It is guarantee that the 39 year old, ageless wonder, Tim Duncan will be back for his 20th season in San Antonio, I expect that the other part of the Spurs “big 3.” Manu Ginobili will be back and for a hometown discount. It is also a guarantee that the former Finals MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Kawhi Leonard will be back. Leonard is the future of the Spurs and any contract he receives will be matched by the Spurs. As for the rest of the free agents on the list, the Spurs may have to let them walk. Belinelli, Green, Monner, Baynes and Joseph have been nice role players. They have fit in well with the system, and helped get the Spurs to multiple NBA Finals and a championship, but the Spurs are looking to make a splash in free agency and may not be able to afford to keep all of them.
Team Needs: Youth
Possible Targets:
LaMarcus Aldridge- We don’t normally hear about the Spurs being big players in free agency, but they are very much in the race for Aldridge, who likes the city of San Antonio and has looked up to Tim Duncan for many years. This move would make the Spurs title contenders and set them up for a smooth transition into the post Tim Duncan era.
Wesley Matthews-While all the Spurs eggs are in the LaMarcus Aldridge basket, it could be a good idea to give Matthews a look he may cost less than Danny Green, because of his recent injury. Matthews is a solid shooting guard, who plays hard, is a good locker room guy and knocks down threes, perfect for the Spurs.
Corey Brewer- He may not fit in offensively, but he will give them a spark of energy off the bench that the Spurs could use.