NBA Trade Rumors: Why the Spurs Need to Land a Big Man

With Tim Duncan rapidly approaching 36, the San Antonio Spurs face a turning point. The franchise can ill-afford to pin its championship aspirations to a rotation that requires Duncan to single-handedly defend the paint like an All-Star night in and night out.

On the one hand, San Antonio certainly must begin to think about life after Duncan. It may not come for another two or three seasons, but the Spurs will make every attempt to prepare themselves for the inevitable.

This is a franchise that understands the value of a low-post talent.

On the other hand, the need for inside help has become a short-term priority as well. Even if San Antonio is unable to land a marquee center or power forward, it would be well-served by improved depth this season and next.

The market the Spurs are working with remains unclear at this point. San Antonio wouldn't part with the kind of assets needed to acquire someone like Pau Gasol (even in the bizarre event that the Spurs and Lakers were willing to help one another out), and it goes without saying the Spurs won't be in on the Howard sweepstakes.

San Antonio has been linked to Chris Kaman, and if general manager R.C. Buford can make the pieces fit, the "Caveman" would be a welcome addition to the Spurs' front line. 

Whether the Spurs have what it takes to get Kaman or discover an under the radar opportunity elsewhere, here are five reasons the Spurs need to land another big. 

History

It's almost impossible to compare San Antonio's 1999 and 2003 championship rosters to their current squad. The supporting cast that once featured veterans like David Robinson and Sean Elliott has evolved into a rotation headlined by the offensively minded likes of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Meanwhile, Tim Duncan has proven that he can win championships with either group. Nevertheless, the post-Robinson era has frequently suffered from lapses in the airtight defense that Gregg Popovich has made his hallmark.

That clearly hasn't diminished the Spurs' ability to dominate over the course of a regular season. However, should San Antonio find itself in shootouts with teams like the Thunder or Heat, nothing but incredible luck from behind the three-point line will save Tim Duncan and company.

That might change if the Spurs can find an approximation of David Robinson to pair alongside Duncan. Until Tiago Splitter proves that he can mesh with Duncan while on the court together, the Spurs should look for outside help. 

The Los Angeles Lakers

San Antonio may currently top Los Angeles in the standings, but that doesn't mean a head-to-head matchup would advantage the Spurs. 

Of course, Tony Parker might be able to run circles around Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, but if the Lakers can slow the pace of a postseason series and give their seven-footers time to set up in the paint, that could spell trouble for the Spurs. San Antonio's half-court offense could still be deadly thanks to a platoon of sharpshooters, but there's no question that someone like Chris Kaman could do wonders for San Antonio's low-post scoring.

More importantly, the Spurs will need length to keep Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol at bay. When either of the Lakers' post-threats builds a head of steam, smaller opponents are almost helpless. DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner could struggle mightily, and the weight of the world would fall upon Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter.

The Spurs could undoubtedly come out ahead in such a scenario, but nothing short of an upgrade will ensure Spurs' fans can sleep easy come playoff time. Long the nemesis of San Antonio's championship aspirations, a move to strengthen the post may be as much about countering the Lakers as anything else. 

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin

Making it out of the Western Conference may be as or more difficult than winning the NBA Finals. 

That's not a knock on the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls. Both have had outstanding seasons and promise to be formidable opponents.

Nevertheless, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers pose a legitimate threat to the Spurs' title hopes. Both teams are replete with young talent capable of playing above the rim and abusing small front lines. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are high-fliers with long arms, and James Harden has proven his proficiency at driving and finishing.

Meanwhile, the Clippers boast two of the most dominant finishers in the game in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. It doesn't hurt that arguably the game's greatest passer sets them up on a nightly basis.

San Antonio can take some solace in its strong regular-season performances against these two teams. The Spurs are currently 2-0 against Lob City and 1-1 against Oklahoma City, proving youth isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Playing things on the safe side still demands that San Antonio seek out a big body to clog up the paint and disrupt the high-flying antics. The Blair/Bonner tandem can do a lot of things well, but they may be overmatched by the elite athleticism they're sure to face.

Exploiting Miami's Achilles Heel

On paper, the Miami Heat are about as good as a professional basketball team can be. 

Sure, LeBron can choke at any given moment. And while Wade is amazing at times, he always seems to be an awkward landing away from another injury. However plausible these kind of eventualities may be, they aren't the kind of things a Finals-bound Spurs' team can rely on.

Hoping isn't a strategy.

Miami has one predictable if not guaranteed weakness: Chris Bosh and Joel Anthony can be beat in the post, and the team's post depth is negligible.

Without Bosh in the lineup, Miami's front line was exposed against the Lakers in telling fashion. Bynum and Gasol combined for 23 rebounds while Joel Anthony only managed to pull down four boards in 34 minutes.

Even with Bosh in the lineup, Miami has struggled against teams with superior interior play. Note losses against Atlanta (with Al Horford), Milwaukee, Orlando and the Clippers—all teams with dynamic athletes at the 4 and/or 5 positions.

San Antonio may be one big body away from putting pressure on Miami's thin frontline depth. If the Spurs make it all the way to the Finals, acquiring a complement to Tim Duncan may be the difference between disappointment and another ring.  

Resting Timmy

Don't be fooled by the fact Tim Duncan's All-Star invitation got lost in the mail this year. The Big Fundamental has proven he's still got it this season, and that probably has a lot to do with how big he is on...the fundamentals.

Duncan has never had Kevin Garnett's athletic ability or Shaquille O'Neal's sheer size. His claim to greatness rests upon an unparalleled game IQ and, of course, exceptional talent.

Even at 35 or 36, these are the kind of qualities that don't fade with age.

Nevertheless, the temptation to keep Duncan on the floor like he's 25 all over again is fool's gold. Duncan will be at his best come postseason if he is rested and healthy—something Gregg Popovich and every Spurs' fan knows all too well.

Unfortunately, the Spurs' are caught in the catch-22 that is vying for home court advantage in the Western Conference.

Maybe it wouldn't matter so much if the Spurs didn't play so dominantly at the AT&T Center, but they've done exactly that with a 15-3 record at home. Remaining toward the top of a crowded Western Conference may require Popovich to rest his treasured icon less than planned.

That is, of course, unless San Antonio finds a capable big man to help spell Timmy.