Is It Finally Time for San Antonio Spurs to Trade Away Draft Picks?
It's not a secret: The San Antonio Spurs are a model of consistency. But has all of that success spawned a false sense of security in San Antonio?
Are the Spurs to stumble into another deep playoff run without addressing a glaring hole on the roster? Or should they get involved in the trade market, even if it means sacrificing a draft pick in the process?
The franchise has won at least 50 games in each of the last 15 seasons, including the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign. San Antonio has brought home five championships, and Gregg Popovich is closing on his 1,000th career win as the Spurs coach.
Superstars have passed through the AT&T Center doors every season, predominantly Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Alongside those veterans, though, is the blossoming talent of Kawhi Leonard, who's all but guaranteed to be the next best thing in the silver and black.
The Western Conference is better than ever, and the 2014-15 edition of the team is currently No. 7 in the standings. Injuries have undeniably contributed to San Antonio's 29-17 record, its worst start since 2009-10.
Granted, a .630 winning percentage is not a terrible place to be, considering a team with that clip has never missed the postseason. But in the unbelievably talented West, it's a mark that's neither safe from late-rising playoff contenders like the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder nor causing terror for the playoffs.
Injuries aside, B/R's Kevin Ding notes the Spurs' troubles this season stem from the lack of motivation. Following a 23-point loss to a short-handed Chicago Bulls squad, Popovich was not happy with his team.
""Our play was humiliating and embarrassing," Popovich said, "because of the Bulls' tenacity and sense of purpose."
Popovich cited a "laissez-faire, entitled attitude." He described his starters' lack of urgency as feeling "everything will be fine," an approach that would've never been found on the determined Spurs of last season.
"
There it is, that false sense of security.
San Antonio is still an excellent team. To be in the position it's in right now—seventh place and arguably within striking distance of five franchises higher in the standings—is a testament to Popovich, his system and the roster he and general manager R.C. Buford have built.
Pop and Buford have done so by concocting a couple of trades, drafting well and signing scheme-fitting gems from free agency like Boris Diaw and Patty Mills.
Historically, the Spurs front office has only moved a first-round draft pick—not rights to a player—when absolutely necessary, not simply because there was a solid player available.
In February 2008, San Antonio traded Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a first-rounder to the then-Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Kurt Thomas. In March 2012, the Spurs sent Richard Jefferson, T.J. Ford and a first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson.
Both Thomas and Jackson filled an immediate need, recorded significant postseason minutes, spent one more season with the Spurs and then headed elsewhere in free agency. Of course, that was because San Antonio selected DeJuan Blair in 2009 and two years later traded fan-favorite George Hill for rights to a project named Kawhi Leonard.
But this season, the Spurs are slowly approaching that necessity again.
The Spurs essentially negated injuries to Tiago Splitter, Patty Mills, Matt Bonner and Marco Belinelli, plugging in Aron Baynes and Cory Joseph along with a little extra Boris Diaw and Danny Green to overcome the respective vacancies.
| Marco Belinelli | 12-5 | Patty Mills | 18-13 |
| Matt Bonner | 4-2 | Tony Parker | 7-7 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 9-9 | Tiago Splitter | 14-8 |
Parker's absence was an issue, but Leonard's was a flat-out problem. Where San Antonio had Joseph to fill in at point guard, Leonard's complete impact is irreplaceable.
Though Belinelli technically plays small forward because he shares the perimeter with Patty Mills and Manu Ginobili, he's little more than a shooter. Green and Diaw stepped into some of Leonard's voided minutes, too, but while solid, they're no Kawhi on the defensive end.
What's more, Belinelli's value has tumbled since he's no longer making up for shaky defense with stellar three-point shooting. And as anticipated, Diaw's offensive production level has dropped following an absolutely fantastic 2013-14 campaign that doubled as his contract season.
JaMychal Green was recently signed from the D-League, but like Popovich said, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, don't overanalyze Green's addition.
All of those factors combined with Leonard's extended time on the sideline result in a currently messy situation at small forward. Sure, he could stay healthy for the rest of the year and ultimately render this a non-issue.
But is that answer a product of hope and trust and a false sense of security? If Leonard really does get hurt, then what?
San Antonio doesn't have many assets to dangle in a significant trade without including a draft pick. Joseph and Belinelli are really the top pieces that the Spurs could move for a swingman.
Wilson Chandler is perhaps the No. 1 small forward available. Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post notes the Denver Nuggets are not actively shopping Chandler, though the eight-year pro is not entirely convinced.
Nevertheless, a player like Chandler would not only be a solid reserve. He could also be employed alongside Leonard in a small-ball lineup, giving Popovich plenty of options.
The biggest snags are Joseph's expiring contract and his personal development. Any team that wants the point guard would almost certainly want the promise of a new deal, but there's no guarantee San Antonio is even shopping the point guard because of Joseph's terrific performance this year.
Consequently, someone of Chandler's talent would require a first-round pick be added, since Belinelli is included because he makes the numbers work and also has an expiring contract. If the Spurs want to add a player who can even somewhat realistically replace Leonard, that 2015 selection will be a hot item.
Remember, if the season ended today, San Antonio's first-rounder would be No. 20 overall, according to Tankathon. The Spurs haven't drafted that low since 2010.
San Antonio need not keep up with the Joneses, per se, but it can't let other Western Conference squads bury the team, either. After all, the Dallas Mavericks picked up Rajon Rondo, the Memphis Grizzlies added Jeff Green and the Thunder snagged Dion Waiters.
Those transactions shouldn't panic the Spurs, but they're not to be dismissed by any franchise in the West, let alone San Antonio specifically. Adding a player like Chandler as a reactionary move isn't a requirement, but it's worth pursuing regardless.
According to HoopsHype, Chandler has a team option for the 2015-16 season. The 6'8" small forward fits an immediate need, would be a key contributor in the playoffs, could stick around for one more year and then venture elsewhere via free agency. By that time, the Spurs should have Kyle Anderson groomed and ready to play significant minutes in the rotation.
Sound familiar? History has a funny way of repeating itself, and all it may take is parting with a first-round draft pick. San Antonio doesn't do that often, but a dominant Western Conference, massive injury risk and glaring hole on the roster may push the front office into a rare, headline-grabbing trade.
Buford, Pop and the Spurs may elect to remain as assembled, which wouldn't be surprising. But if the worst-case scenario of Leonard being unavailable in the postseason comes to fruition, the franchise might find its first-round draft pick is less meaningful than instead having someone who could've stepped in.
Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference and are accurate as of Jan. 26.
Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
