With a 32-39 overall record for the 2019-20 campaign, the San Antonio Spurs finished with the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. For the first time since 1997, the team was left out of the playoff hunt. Now, as the coming season draws near, head coach Gregg Popovich and his staff will be looking for ways to lead the franchise back to its former glory, but where should they turn?
In a tweet sent out on Thursday morning, NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock noted that the Spurs' front office is “up to something big behind the scenes.” Obviously, this is a rather vague statement, leaving plenty of room for speculation.
There is a growing sense among NBA circles that the San Antonio Spurs’ front office is currently up to something big behind the scenes.
— Matt Babcock (@MattBabcock11) November 11, 2020
The Spurs have been a model of consistency for years, winning five championships under coach Pop's direction. The team had high hopes for the 2019-20 season, as they acquired four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan from the Toronto Raptors prior to its start. Those hopes fell flat, though, and it sounds like the team is exploring their options.
So what might the Spurs be up to “behind the scenes,” as Babcock reported? San Antonio has the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft — the team's highest selection since they took Tim Duncan first overall back in 1997. Will Spurs fans see a trade? Will the team look to move up in the picking order? These are the questions that fans of the team are asking.
In recent weeks, there have been some reports indicating that DeRozan is unhappy in San Antonio. He has since refuted those claims, however, noting that he “doesn't know when he said that sh**” in a now-deleted Instagram post. Notably, the California native has a $27.7 million player option on his contract for the coming season, which means he could leave the Spurs or opt in. Without a doubt, there would be several teams interested in his services — if he becomes available.
Though he's denied claims of his unhappiness, now is the time for the Spurs to consider their future with DeRozan. If the team is open to the idea of trading him, there are several enticing names that could be viewed as a trade target.
Make a move
Just this week, news came down the wire indicating that Russell Westbrook wants the Houston Rockets to trade him, citing the team's direction as his reasoning. A Westbrook-DeRozan deal would not work straight up, but the Spurs could throw in another piece to sweeten the proverbial pot — a player like LaMarcus Aldridge, perhaps. Furthermore, San Antonio has the most cap space of any team in the NBA, which gives the organization a fair amount of financial flexibility.
This means the Spurs have the means to lure a big-named player to the River City this offseason. That player could be Westbrook, sure, but there are plenty of interesting names out there. If San Antonio is looking for a rim protector, Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba could be a viable option, and it would alleviate the pressure of extending Jakob Poeltl on a team-friendly deal. Furthermore, Orlando is locked into a deal with big man Nikola Vucevic, so they might consider a Bamba trade.
Another name that the Spurs should consider is Jrue Holiday, point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. In a relatively quiet manner, Holiday has developed into a truly efficient two-way player. He's consistent on offense, averaging 17.6 points and 6.8 assists over the course of his seven-year stint in the Crescent City. However, he's also a two-time All-Defensive Team selection.
If, by chance, the Spurs can keep DeRozan while acquiring Holiday, the team would have a dangerous backcourt duo — one that would likely be viewed as an instant contender in the Western Conference. It's worth noting that Holiday has an option on his contract after this season, which means he's playing on a short-term deal. Could these two lead San Antonio back to the postseason?
Holiday would cost the Spurs a fair amount. However, as noted earlier, San Antonio has the most cap space of any team this season.
The Spurs should also look at guys like Tobias Harris and Julius Randle ahead of the 2019-20 season. Harris has become a role player with the Philadelphia 76ers, as Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons get most of the action. With the Spurs, he could ascend to more than just a highly-paid role player. However, going after Tobias would cut into the aforementioned cap space, as he is set to earn roughly $34 million for the 2020-21 campaign, and he won't be an unrestricted agent until 2024.
Randle would be a nice fit with the Spurs, and he wouldn't be too much of a salary cap hit. However, several teams are said to be interested in his services. He signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the New York Knicks in June of 2019, and he won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2022.
Randle, now 25 years of age, has never played with a defensive-minded team like one of Gregg Popovich's. With the Spurs, his fullest potential could be realized. In his last two seasons, the former Kentucky Wildcat scored 20.5 points per game with 9.2 rebounds and a noteworthy 3.1 assists. At 6-8 and 250 pounds, he would give San Antonio a new presence in the paint.
At 21-45 overall, the Knicks struggled to find a rhythm last season, and some believe the team is open for business. If they were to entertain offers for Randle, they would surely want a decent return.
For now, it seems we'll have to wait and see what this “behind the scenes” activity from the Spurs is all about. Ultimately, though, it's clear that the team is looking to make some adjustments.
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