NBA Trade Rumors: Are the Spurs Really Looking to Deal Tony Parker?

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One Of The More Prominent NBA Trade Rumors May Not Have Any Truth To It At All

Tony Parker has been a key figure for the San Antonio Spurs for sometime now. Parker has been a part of the 2003, 2007, and 2009 championship teams. He was the 2007 finals MVP and has made three all-star appearances. Clearly, he has been a dynamic player and one of the reasons the Spurs have been so good for a long time.

So when a rumor broke that the Spurs were shopping him around, I was shocked.

During the draft it was known that the Spurs were looking to get younger and move up in the draft. They had their eyes on several players including: Jonas Valanciunas, Tristan Thompson, and Khawi Leonard. Before the draft we heard that Parker was going to several places in order for the Spurs to pick up one of these coveted players. In the end, the Spurs did get Khawi Leonard after they traded George Hill to the Pacers for the his draft rights.

Hold on, was Tony Parker ever in play? Were the Spurs really interested in dealing him or was that just part of the typical rumor mill?

Parker was never going to be let go by the Spurs. The only reason they would have let him go would have been if someone came along with an option that benefited them greatly. Some people point to Parker's age as a reason for why the team looked to trade him. He is only 29 and still has a great first step. While most people were sure that Parker was out of San Antonio, I doubted it very much. Did anyone watch the playoffs? Jason Kidd is 11 years his elder and still manage to play well throughout several grueling and physical series.

With the emergence of Gary Neal, it would make Parker a little easier to deal, but the team would only have one point guard on the team. Sure they could go out and sign one, but who out there knows the Spurs system better than Parker? No one.

Tony Parker will be in San Antonio this year along with many years to come. Even if Neal does end up passing him on the depth chart, Parker would be a reliable vet that could give the team 25-30 minutes a game. He wasn't dealt and was never fully on the trading block. This rumor sprouted legs of its own and took off.

For now, Parker remains a great NBA point guard on a very good team.

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