In an effort to pursue Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, the San Antonio Spurs reportedly might consider trading a player like Boris Diaw, Patty Mills or Tiago Splitter to clear cap space. As for Aldridge, the soon-to-be free agent reportedly is interested in San Antonio as a possible destination in July.
Aldridge is no longer a lock to re-sign with Portland after the season, and San Antonio - along with the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers - reportedly is one of his top choices for where he plays next. With that foresight seemingly in mind, the cash-strapped Spurs reportedly will likely try to trade one of their players in the offseason to clear cap space for him.
"If Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili come back on cheaper deals, it will nip away at San Antonio's ability to offer LaMarcus Aldridge or anything else a max contract - to the point that the Spurs might have to deal a player with a midsize salary, like Boris Diaw or Patty Mills, to absorb any max-level free agent who agrees to go there," Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote Tuesday.
Splitter was named by ESPN's Marc Stein as a possible candidate for the Spurs to trade.
All three veteran players could provide solid minutes for a team, but the Spurs would almost certainly be forced to add an asset to the deal to make it worthwhile for the receiving team. In regard to contracts, Diaw is due $21 million over the next three seasons, Mills $6.5 million over the next two and Splitter $16.7 million over the next two.
San Antonio will also have to decide what to do about its own soon-to-be free agents, namely Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Danny Green and Marco Belinelli. Leonard and Parker - Duncan and Ginobili too, if they decide to come back- are locks to be re-signed, it's just a matter of for how much, but Green and Belinelli could become salary cap casualties if the front office can't clear space via trades.
