Tim Duncan Will Reportedly Take A Discount So The Spurs Can Chase LaMarcus Aldridge

Quietly, this is a pivotal summer for the San Antonio Spurs. If Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili don’t return for one more run, it leaves the Spurs with – and this is a massive understatement – two gigantic, gaping holes in the foundation of their team. The loss of Duncan would be especially wrenching, as he’s been the focal point of the Spurs’ offense and defense since he arrived.

According to ESPN, the Spurs are optimistic they won’t have to worry about that for at least one more year.

The San Antonio Spurs are operating under the premise that Tim Duncan will be returning in 2015-16 for a 19th NBA season, according to league sources.

Although Duncan and fellow Spurs mainstay Manu Ginobili have yet to make a formal declaration about their plans for next season, sources told ESPN.com that the Spurs are optimistic about re-signing both at salaries that will also allow them to re-sign prized restricted free agent Kawhi Leonard this summer as well as pursue top-tier free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.

So, not only will Duncan and Manu return, they’ll do so in true Spurs fashion, taking sharp discounts so that the Spurs can pursue other free agents or, as in the case of Kawhi Leonard, retain their own.

This time is a bit different than the others, however, as the Spurs are actually going after a marquee free agent in LaMarcus Aldridge. Nearly every report has the big man leaving the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio as his preferred destination. He’s not going to be Duncan’s replacement, insofar as he’s not going to replicate everything Duncan does (the number of players who can or have done that is approximately…two, maybe three), but he’s an elite offensive talent, an underrated defender, and should fit into the free-flowing Spurs’ style seamlessly.

If the Spurs get Aldridge and re-sign Leonard, the team’s future won’t have as bumpy of a transition after the big three of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili finally retire. There is still the matter of Danny Green, and to a lesser extent Marco Bellinelli to settle, but all of those other dominoes should fall into place once the Spurs have re-signed Duncan and Ginobili.

(Via ESPN)

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