Passing of the torch in San Antonio

 

Aldridge could make the Spurs better than ever before

 

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock these past couple of days, or you just don’t follow sports, then you should be well aware that LaMarcus Aldridge will play for the San Antonio Spurs next season, and about three more after that. On July 4, Aldridge and the Spurs agreed to a 4 year, $80 million dollar deal. Aldridge of course was the number one target this free agency season, and is one of the leagues best forwards. Aldridge met with around seven different teams since July 1st, and after a couple of days, and two meetings with Gregg Popovich, and the Spurs organization, the 29 year old decided to join the Spurs. It’s a move that makes so much sense not only for Aldridge, but for the Spurs organization as well. Aldridge of course was born, and raised in Texas, now gets to play for a Texas team, and along side the greatest power forward of all time, in Tim Duncan. Again, the move makes so much sense to me. Aldridge being a 4x NBA All Star, teaming up with a 15x NBA All Star, and a 5x NBA Champion in Duncan, and it’s a move that should scare every team in the NBA.

It kind of reminds me of when David Robinson was edging into his retirement, and the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan in 1997. Back then, Duncan was the young buck, and was learning from Robinson. Robinson couldn’t have passed off the torch to anyone better, and Duncan seems to be doing the same with Aldridge. I expect this season to be Duncans’ last, and wouldn’t it be great if he could go out on top, as Robinson did in 2003. When looking at the team they have right now, the Spurs can definitely do it. Looking at their starting lineup, I just wanna crown them the champs right now. Tony Parker running Point guard, with Danny Green back for 4 more years at the Shooting guard position, and of course, you have the defensive player of the year in Kawhi Leonard at Small Forward for five more years. The most impressive however, has to be the duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan at the four and five spots. Again, it reminds me so much of when Duncan teamed up with David Robinson for the end of Robinson’s career. Of course Duncan and Robinson won two championships out of their five years together, which is very impressive. Although Aldridge and Duncan won’t be together for five years, they could definitely leave some damage for a season or two. By joining the Spurs, Aldridge has a great chance at his first championship, and the league knows it. By adding Aldridge, the Spurs become an easy favorite to win it all this season, right next to teams like the Cavaliers, and Warriors. I completely think the Spurs could win it all this season, as long as they can stay healthy throughout the course.

When many think of the Spurs post Duncan era, they think of a playoff team, with no real possible championship contention. That’s not the case anymore. By signing Danny Green, and Kawhi Leonard to multi year deals, they’ve allowed themselves to become championship contenders for 3 to 5 more years, and by adding LaMarcus Aldridge to the mix, they become a 5 to 10 year championship contender. That would be like 35 years of championship contention if you add all of Robinson’s years with Duncan’s years, with Leonard and Aldridge’s years. It amazes me how great the Spurs organization is by being able to bring in new pieces every year, and being able to re-sign so many players every year, they allow themselves to be championship contenders year after year. No question the best franchise in sports over the past 20 years.

By adding the formula of great players, with a great coaching system, and great organization, the San Antonio Spurs have set themselves up for many more years of success. I wouldn’t be shocked if they won it all this season, next season, and even the one after that. I think by putting Aldridge in a Spurs uniform, the Spurs chances of a championship are greater than ever. Watch out other teams, because the San Antonio Spurs are better than ever, and that’s saying quite a lot.

A.B

Announcement : This will be my last NBA article for the World of the A.B for a while. I’ll be writing more NBA articles as we get closer to the season. However, if you want to keep reading my NBA work, make sure to follow me on My Twitter where I share all of my articles. Also, I’ll still be writing more Fantasy Football content for the blog this summer! Thanks! 

Updated Spurs Free Agency Preview

  A couple of months ago, I gave my predictions on what the 2015 San Antonio Spurs team would possiblly look like. Now as we inch closer to the start of free agency, we’re starting to see more realistic possible outcomes. So as of now, here’s what we know :

• The Spurs have several big free agents of their own that they still have to think of re-signing.
• Big names like LaMarcus Aldridge could be heading for San Antonio as well.
• The Spurs cap room isn’t too high.

Right now the Spurs free agents are :

Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Marco Belinelli, Cory Joseph, Aron Baynes, Jeff Ayres, Matt Bonner, and Reggie Williams.

To me, there’s really only around 4 players from that list that I really want back. Of course I want Duncan, and Manu to return for one more season, and I think we NEED to get back Kawhi Leonard. Those three I really want back. I would love to get Danny Green back, but if we look to pursue Aldridge, getting back Green seems very un-realistic. However, if we can re-sign Marco Belinelli, I’d be fine. In today’s article, I’ll give a few Free Agent names that I want the Spurs to sign, and why.

Tim Duncan, PF – Duncan’s already done so much for this franchise, and the fact that he’s currently 40 years old doesn’t help an anti retirement argument, but if you look at his stats from last year, they’re pretty good for a 39 year old big man. Duncan was so successful last season, that there’s no way he doesn’t come back. Not only that, but I highly doubt he wants to end his amazing career of off a devastating first round, game 7 loss to the Clippers. Duncan stays to get one last chance at a sixth ring.

Manu Ginobili, SG – There have already been a few reports that if Duncan stays, Manu will too. Towards the end of last season, people were starting to question Manu’s play style, saying that it doesn’t really work anymore. But we forget that Manu has come up big for us recently, and he has proven that some times he can get it going and can provide 15-25 points. Same thing I said for Tim, I think for Manu. No way both guys want to end their career off with a game 7 Clippers loss.Both successful players, and both well earned future hall of famers. They both should return for one more season.

Kawhi Leonard, SF – He’s already been called the face of the franchsie. Kawhi’s already accomplished so many things at such a young age, there’s no way the Spurs let him walk away. Kawhi has the potential to become a great player, and if I know that, than the Spurs organization has to be aware of it too. Kawhi’s a must sign player.

Danny Green, SG – Because Green wants so much money, I don’t think he’ll return to San Antonio next season. Hopefully I’m wrong, because I love Danny. He’s a great defender, a terrific passer now, and of course, a cold blooded sharp shooter. Green has the potential to change the outcome of any Spurs game, and has proven to be a valuable weapon these past couple of years. I hope Green stays, but as of now, it’s very unlikely.

Marco Belinelli, SG – If Green leaves, I think the Spurs have to re-sign Belinelli. There were already times last season where Belinelli proved he could be a potential starter for the Spurs, and if Green leaves, Beli could take over his spot. Beli’s almost just as good a shooter as Green is, however, he’s nowhere near the defensive play making of Green, which could be a problem for the team if they decide to get Belinelli. However, at the same time it could be easily fixed, and Belinelli could get better at defense quickly. If Green leaves, the Spurs could get Belinelli back. Again though, cap room’s the main issue.

LaMarcus Aldridge – One of the leagues best big men, great shooter, terrific defensive player, would fit the Spurs system perfectly, yadda yadda yadda, blah blah, all stuff we already know. By adding LaMarcus Aldridge to their squad, the Spurs chances of winning another title would go way up. Not only could Aldridge be useful next season, but think about this. He would be learning from one kf the greatest in Tim Duncan, and would play alongside Duncan. When Duncan eventually retires, Aldridge fills his spot better than anyone else could, and the Spurs are still dominant for a long, long time. I think if the Spurs get Aldridge, everything changes for them.

So with that all said, if it was all up to me, realistically of course, here’s what my 2015-2016 version of the Spurs would look like :

Tony Parker – PG

Danny Green / Marco Belinelli – SG

Kawhi Leonard – SF

LaMarcus Aldridge – PF

Tim Duncan – C

Bench players : Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson, Boris Diaw, others I could really care less

Now you may have noticed that I don’t have Tiago Splitter there. That’s because I think in order to actually get Aldridge and Green or Belinelli, we’ll have to trade someone, and I could see Splitter being that guy. The Spurs just drafted a seven foot center from Serbia, who could eventually take Splitters spot. Sorry Tiago, but if someones gotta go, I see it being you.

In the end, with Free Agency being right around the corner, I feel like the Spurs we know from last season, will be a really different team this year. Whether that means Aldridge comes to San Antonio, or guys like Danny Green are gone, it’ll be a different looking team. Can’t wait to see what happens on July 1st when Free Agency starts.

A.B

End of a Spurs Dynasty?

  

With only a few seconds to go in game 7 of the first round of the Clippers-Spurs series, Clippers Point Guard Chris Paul took a shot that seemed to almost freeze time. The shot went up, and all that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have accomplished seemed like a faded memory, and a thing of long ago. Paul hit a jumper off the backboard, and left the Spurs with only a second to work with. Which of course wasn’t enough time, and the Clippers would hold on for the heart racing win, and advance to the next round, ending the Spurs season in the blink of an eye. But they may have ended something more than one season. They may’ve ended the Spurs dynasty.

Even though he plays like he’s 29 years young, Tim Duncan is now 39 years of age, and is possibly face to face with calling his career over. Duncan hasn’t put up MVP numbers, nowhere close as a matter of fact, but he has definitely played like an MVP caliber player. While players on the Spurs got injured left and right, it was Duncan who put the team on his back, and led them to another Playoff appearance, something he’s always done since being drafted by the Spurs in 1997. Duncan also reached his 15th NBA All star appearance this season. So in my eyes, there should be no reason why Duncan can’t come back for another season. He’s still playing fantastic basketball for the Spurs, and definitely doesn’t want to end his career off of a devastating loss, like the one he took against the Clippers last Saturday night. Duncan still has the heart like a lion, and the appetite of a champion. He should come back again for at least one more season.

Manu Ginobili on the other hand, still appears to be a mystery. The soon to be 38 year old Shooting Guard has thrown himself around the court so many times in his lengthy career, that I’m really surprised he hasn’t retired already. But like Duncan, he has the heart of a lion, and appetite of a champion. Ginobili averaged only 10.5 points per game this season, which happens to be his second to worst career low, only better than his rookie season of 7.6 ppg. It’s pretty clear that he’s struggling right now. Manu’s age has caught up to him at last, and could force him to call his career over. After the heartbreaking Game 7 loss, Head Coach Gregg Popovich, (who is also being questioned on his return for next season), said that he, and the Spurs core will “probably come back” next season. Which I guess is good news. Recently, Manu said that he may take up to a month to figure his future out, and his decision may reflect off of Duncan’s decision to either stay or go. And Because Tony Parker’s still on a contract, he won’t be going anywhere yet.

Overall, the season for the 2015 San Antonio Spurs ended way too quickly, and there’s no reason why the “Core Four” of Pop,Duncan,Tony, and Manu should leave. All are doing their job pretty well still, and the Spurs are still obvious title contenders next season, especially if they re-sign players like Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green, and possibly sign a star like Lamarcus Aldridge, or Marc Gasol. Ultimately, I think that if Duncan returns, Manu will return for one last ride. Pop will be back, and a summer of resting should heal Tony Parker of any injury, and should help him get back to his dominate self for next season. Once they lock up Kawhi, and other key players like Green and Belinelli, they should focus on another big player, like a Aldridge, Gasol, or even Kevin Love possibly. If everything comes into play, the San Antonio Spurs should have one more season left of the “Big Three” era, and are definitely title contenders for next season. In a way, the first round loss to the Clippers may be a good thing afterall. 

Thanks for the read, AB.