San Antonio Spurs: A Game Plan After Corey Maggette's Snub

While over the next several days, approximately 34,958,094,385 articles will be written on where the Clippers must go now that Elton Brand and Corey Maggette have decided to leave.  But for at least one legitimate title contender, Maggette's decision also has a dramatic impact on their offseason.

The San Antonio Spurs, widely considered the favorites to land Maggette's services before the Warriors stepped in and outbid them, are now back at square one in determining how to assemble next year's team.

Last season, it was more apparent than ever that the rest of the Western Conference—in particular the Lakers, Hornets, and Jazz—is catching up and have possibly even overtaken the Spurs.

The Spurs, plagued by a lack of a definitive fourth scorer after the big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, would have had the perfect solution to their problems had they been able to land Maggette.

Maggette possesses a perfect combination of perimeter shooting and slashing with the ability to create his own shot that would have made the Spurs extremely dangerous offensively. Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan and company would have been able to make up for his defensive deficiencies.

With Maggette out of the picture, the answer to the question of "what's next" will decide if the aging Spurs can keep pace with the rising, younger Lakers, Hornets, and Jazz in the West next year.

Indeed, while the Clippers have a big decision to make over the next few weeks, the Spurs' approach to this offseason may determine the next NBA champion, and the entire league should keep an eye on it.

The obvious need for the Spurs this offseason is to get a younger, more athletic wing player, and they could use a backup big man as well.  From here, it appears there are three plausible courses for the Spurs to set this offseason:

Go after the Next Biggest Fish

While the some of the next biggest fish—Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Andre Iguodala, Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Emeka Okafor, and Luol Deng—all figure to be offered more money by their current teams than the Spurs could offer, there are a few free agents left that the Spurs might be interested in that would likely command the majority of their mid-level exception.

The first player who will be linked to the Spurs is Nuggets guard J.R. Smith. Spurs fans have heard of J.R. Smith for a very long time now, ever since he was nearly traded to the Spurs at the deadline two years ago. Though the Spurs' interest in him is old news, he still must be the first player mentioned when it comes to candidates for the mid-level exception.

As a restricted free agent, the Nuggets would have the option to match any offer the Spurs make to Smith.  However, while they won't let him walk away over pennies, Smith has repeatedly fallen out of favor with coach George Karl.

Considering how strapped the Nuggets are financially, they would have to think twice before matching an offer of anything over $4 million a year.

Smith possesses a number of skills that the Spurs could find useful.  He averaged a solid 12.3 PPG off the bench while shooting a career-high 40.3 percent from three-point range last season.

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