Signing LaMarcus Aldridge Would Keep San Antonio Spurs' Dynasty Going

The San Antonio Spurs can extend the longevity of one of the greatest dynasties in professional basketball by signing Portland Trail Blazers All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge this summer. With core members such as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker getting long in the tooth, the franchise needs to start planning for the future.

Under head coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have been one of the most dominant teams in the NBA. The team has won at least 50 games in 17 of the last 18 seasons (with the shortened 1998-99 campaign, when they went 37-13, being the lone exception) and nabbed five championships in six trips to the NBA Finals.

However, with the 39-year-old Duncan set to be a free agent this summer and the Spurs coming off a tough first-round elimination at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers, the club must prepare for life after The Big Fundamental. That's why ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported earlier this month that Aldridge might be in the team's offseason cross hairs. 

"

But the consistent word on the personnel grapevine at the minute informs us that San Antonio and Dallas not only both believe they have a real shot at signing him but are also legitimately in Aldridge's thoughts ... Sources insist — at, yes, this early juncture — that San Antonio sits near or at the top of Aldridge's list ... unless the Cleveland Cavaliers were to lose Kevin Love and then somehow manufacture a way to sign-and-trade for him.

"

On paper, a move to San Antonio makes a ton of sense for Aldridge. He's a native Texan, having grown up in Dallas and played college ball for the Texas Longhorns, and joining the Spurs gives him a good shot at the championship that has eluded him in Portland. 

In nine seasons, Aldridge has made four All-Star appearances and earned two All-NBA third-team nods but has made it past the first round of the postseason just once. While Aldridge has previously expressed a desire to be "the best Blazer ever" Jason Quick of the Oregonian wrote that some of his own teammates are reportedly worried he will bolt this summer, with one unnamed Blazer giving the power forward a "50-50" shot of sticking around. 

If the Spurs can find a way financially to fit the big man on the roster, he could pair with rising superstar Kawhi Leonard to give the team a formidable duo to build around for years to come. 

The Cost

Sam Forencich/Getty Images

Of course, nobody said luring Aldridge to San Antonio was going to be easy. The big man would be leaving a lot of money on the table should he decide to leave Portland to play elsewhere. According to Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk, Aldridge would make $109 million if he stays as opposed to $81 million if he were to bolt. In either case, he's likely to make around $20 million next year, which would be a bump up from the $16.2 million he made in 2014-15. 

One possible option for Aldridge is signing a one-year deal this summer then hitting free agency next season, when the cap is expected to spike to $89 million, per Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.

As a 10-year veteran, Aldridge would be entitled to a deal worth 35 percent of the cap, which means the deal would start at approximately $31.2 million annually. 

Next, there's the issue of whether San Antonio can even fit Aldridge on its roster. According to Basketball Insiders, the team has $34.1 million committed next season to Parker, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Patty Mills and Kyle Anderson. 

With next year's cap projected at $67.1 million, that leaves the Spurs $33 million to bring back Duncan and Ginobili, give Leonard the max deal they are expected to offer, sign Aldridge and fill out the rest of the roster. While the Spurs can exceed the cap to retain their own players, successfully completing that wish list will be quite expensive for a small-market team that has never been a huge player in the free agency. 

The best way for the Spurs to open up cap space will be to find a taker for the two years and $16.75 million remaining on Splitter's contract. According to Stein, the club may explore that avenue this offseason.

"

One scenario on the personnel grapevine gaining steam is the notion that the Spurs could elect to explore the possibility of dealing away Tiago Splitter to create more financial flexibility. Splitter has two years left on his contract valued at just under $17 million and is quietly regarded as a key contributor in San Antonio given how well he fits as a frontcourt sidekick next to Duncan. But if you're the Spurs -- and if the increasingly loud rumbles about Aldridge having San Antonio as the preferred destination atop his wish list prove true -- examining Splitter's trade market might suddenly become unavoidable.

"

Even with Splitter off the books, the team would still need Duncan and Ginobili to return (if neither opts to retire) at a discount while also letting key role players such as Danny Green and Marco Belinelli walk.

The upside is the club goes into next season with a starting five of Duncan, Aldridge, Leonard, Ginobili and Parker. The downside is there wouldn't be much else behind that group, and depth is key for an aging roster. 

Is Aldridge Worth It?

Cameron Browne/Getty Images

The Spurs have been one of the few teams that have managed to stay competitive without requiring outside help from marquee free agents. They draft well, and when they do dip into the open market, they steal a virtual unknown like Green or Matt Bonner and develop him into a quality contributor. 

However, once the Duncan-Popovich era comes to an end, San Antonio becomes less of a draw. Additionally, the team's continued success makes it harder to find top-level talent at the bottom of the draft each year. That's why it makes sense to jump at the opportunity to add someone of Aldridge's caliber before the Spurs' mystique disappears. 

While Duncan has shown few signs of decline despite being a workhorse for 18 years, the Spurs would benefit from having another low-post scoring option who could also knock down the occasional mid-range jumper.

The clips below show Aldridge's versatility on the offensive end. 

Aldridge has emerged as a consistent double-double threat, averaging at least 23 points and 10 boards in each of the last two seasons. In fact, Aldridge's numbers at 29 years old are comparable to Duncan's at that age, with the latter having an edge on the defensive end. 

Name	Year	FG%	PPG	RPG	BPG	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating
Aldridge	'14-'15	46.6	23.4	10.2	1.0	108	102
Duncan	'05-'06	48.4	18.6	11.0	2.0	106	94

While Aldridge still has work to do to become an elite defender, he made strides in that area this past season. According to Basketball-Reference.com, he ranked 20th in the NBA with 3.7 defensive win shares, and his defensive rating of 102 was the best of his career. He also did a decent job of hindering opponents' shooting, as the chart below makes evident.

Area	Aldridge	Normal	Differential
Overall	44.1	46.2	-2.1
Two-Pointers	45.2	49.1	-3.9
Less than Six Ft.	54.3	59.6	-5.3
Less than 10 ft.	48.9	54.5	-5.5

There will likely never be another Tim Duncan, but Aldridge's similar skill set makes him a more-than-suitable replacement for whenever The Big Fundamental calls it quits. If Duncan returns next season, what better role model for an emerging big man to learn from than arguably the greatest power forward of all time?

Aldridge's price tag may be steep, but the chance to add this kind of talent doesn't happen often. With the salary cap rising high over the next few years, every team will have a few extra dollars to spend in free agency, making it even more of a frenzy.

If the Spurs can find the money to add Duncan's potential heir apparent a year early, it would allow the team to keep its title hopes alive without having to go back to the drawing board down the road. 

Danny Bollinger/Getty Images

A potential marriage between the San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge would allow the former to remain relevant long after the current regime retires while giving the latter a chance to return home and chase championships. 

The Spurs have traditionally relied on the draft and great player development to build their dynasty, but an aging roster may force the team to think outside its comfort zone. In his exit interview, Popovich said the club may look "considerably different" next season. 

Adding Aldridge should start that makeover.