5 NBA Teams That Should Consider a Potential Tiago Splitter Trade
NBA teams that are looking for a quality starting center should give the San Antonio Spurs a call about Tiago Splitter.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Spurs may be looking to move Splitter this summer in an effort to free up more cap space and chase after a marquee free agent:
"The working assumption nonetheless persists that the Spurs, with maestro executive R.C. Buford as their offseason point man, will manufacture at least $20 million in salary-cap space this summer to go after (LaMarcus) Aldridge -- or Memphis' Marc Gasol-- even if Leonard is maxed and Duncan returns.
How?
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.
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The 30-year-old Splitter is a good defender and adequate rebounder who can occasionally contribute on offense, as well. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds last season while shooting 55.8 percent from the field. The big Brazilian also posted a defensive rating (estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions) of 101 and did a decent job of protecting the paint by holding opponents to 57.2 percent shooting from less than six feet, per NBA.com.
Splitter's price tag is a bit steep given his lack of gaudy numbers, but the dearth of quality big men puts size at a premium.
Ideally, the Spurs would look to move Splitter to a club that can absorb his contract without taking any salary back in return. For teams that are looking for a defensive presence inside that are unable or unwilling to chase a big name in free agency, trading for Splitter could wind up being a cheaper and more sensible alternative.
New York Knicks
1 of 5
This season, the New York Knicks used Amar'e Stoudemire, Cole Aldrich, Jason Smith, Andrea Bargnani and Samuel Dalembert to man the middle. That's not exactly a murderers' row of NBA centers.
In truth, the Knicks need help everywhere except small forward, where Carmelo Anthony rules the roost. With Anthony ($22.8 million) and Jose Calderon ($7.4 million) being the only large contracts on the books for next season, the team can afford to make a few upgrades.
This year's free-agent class features a slew of rim-protectors such as Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan and Omer Asik. All four could command a salary greater than the $17 million left on Tiago Splitter's contract. If the Knicks add Splitter, they would improve up front and still have some cap space to address other needs.
The Knicks lacked a defensive presence down low after shipping Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks last summer. New York allowed 101.2 points per game, which tied for 21st in the NBA, and finished 28th in defensive efficiency, per ESPN's Hollinger stats.
The club could look to add a big man via the draft, depending on the outcome of the lottery. After finishing with the second-worst record in basketball at 17-65, the Knicks have a 38.7 percent chance of netting a top-two pick, per NBA.com.
That would put them in position to take a promising pivot man such as Duke's Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns. If they fall outside of Okafor or Towns' range, a potential trade for Splitter becomes more intriguing.
New York doesn't have a ton of compelling trade chips, but it has a glaring need at center and the cap room to take on Splitter's deal. If the Knicks are willing to offer up a protected first-round pick for Splitter's services, they might be able to turn things around.
New Orleans Pelicans
2 of 5
The New Orleans Pelicans could once again dip into the trade market for a new starting center to pair with phenom Anthony Davis. Last year, the team filled its need by sending a first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for Omer Asik.
Asik is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and while the team expressed a desire to bring him back, it's hard to ignore the stark contrast between the big man's regular-season and postseason numbers.
- Regular season: 76 games, 26.1 minutes, 7.3 points, 9.8 rebounds
- Playoffs: Four games, 19.8 minutes, two points, 7.3 rebounds
Asik's struggles against the Golden State Warriors' smaller lineups played a role in his playing time taking a dip. However, as NOLA.com's John Reid points out, the Turkey native's offensive shortcomings were a key reason, as well: "In three of the final four games, Asik didn't get off the bench in the fourth quarter with coach Monty Williams opting to pair power forwards Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson together to provide more scoring capability."
Additionally, Asik's backup, Alexis Ajinca, is also an unrestricted free agent. Ajinca was one of the team's biggest surprises this year, finishing 40th in player efficiency rating (PER), per ESPN.com, and averaging 6.5 points in 14.1 minutes per game. After making just less than $1 million in 2014-15, the Frenchman is due for a raise.
If the Pels are unable to bring back Asik and Ajinca, they could take a long look at Tiago Splitter. Pelicans general manager Dell Demps, a former executive in San Antonio, has a familiarity with the organization and could use Splitter to help instill the Spurs' philosophies in New Orleans.
Like Asik, Splitter is a fine defender who can also put the ball in the basket. A pairing of Splitter and Davis could be formidable inside and would allow the team to compensate for any potential losses at the position.
With $40 million already on the books for next season and The Brow expected to net a lucrative extension this summer, the Pelicans will likely have to do a little maneuvering financially to fit in Splitter. Eric Gordon ($15.5 million) and Ryan Anderson ($8.5 million) are both in the final years of their big contracts. The team could try to move either in a separate deal to free up some more cap space.
Demps has also shown a willingness to trade draft picks for veteran talent, having made moves for Asik and Jrue Holiday in back-to-back years, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him do it again with Splitter.
Boston Celtics
3 of 5
It didn't take long for the Boston Celtics to return to the postseason. After gutting what was once a championship roster and hiring Brad Stevens away from Butler, the C's went from being a 25-win team last season to scrapping their way to the seventh seed this year with 40 wins.
Boston has a bevy of talented guards in Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Evan Turner. Up front, the club has intriguing offensive weapons in Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller but could use a defensive force in the middle.
That's where Tiago Splitter comes in.
Now that the team has once again tasted success, it is time to use the considerable resources at its disposal to bring in players who can contribute right away.
The Celtics have a plethora of draft picks and only $40 million in guaranteed payroll for next season. Those two factors sound like the perfect recipe to make a Splitter trade happen. Boston could bring in Splitter to man the middle, move Olynyk to power forward to replace free agent Brandon Bass and have Zeller come off the bench to provide an offensive spark.
Jared Sullinger, who has battled foot and back injuries during his career, also factors into the team's frontcourt depth, if he can stay healthy.
Splitter may not be a flashy name, but he's a savvy veteran with plenty of postseason experience who could be a good mentor on a young roster.
Philadelphia 76ers
4 of 5
If the Philadelphia 76ers are ever going to emerge from the NBA's basement, they will need experienced players who can lead the way.
The Sixers already have a potential franchise center in last year's No. 3 overall pick Joel Embiid, who will eventually team with fellow youngster Nerlens Noel to give Philly an imposing frontcourt duo.
However, Embiid hasn't played a meaningful basketball game in more than a year as he's been recovering from back and knee injuries. With so much of the franchise's future resting on the 21-year-old's health, it would be ill-advised to throw the former Kansas phenom into the fire before he's physically ready.
Why not Tiago Splitter?
Sixers head coach Brett Brown should know Splitter well from their days together in San Antonio, where Brown was an assistant under Gregg Popovich. Along the way, Splitter could teach Embiid about the rigors of playing in the NBA.
As for compensation, the Sixers are armed with a staggering five second-round picks in this year's draft. Philadelphia could package a couple of those in exchange for Splitter, while the Spurs could turn those late picks into players they may stash for later use.
After the top four or five teams, the Eastern Conference is an open book filled with opportunity for clubs that are looking to move up the ranks. The Sixers may not be a playoff contender yet, but adding a veteran contributor like Splitter to a strong, young core is a step in the right direction.
Portland Trail Blazers
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If the Spurs' ultimate reason for moving Splitter is to make room for someone like LaMarcus Aldridge, why not try to work out a sign-and-trade that would allow the Portland Trail Blazers to get something for their possibly departing franchise player?
After injuries forced a promising season to come crashing down in the playoffs, uncertainty now clouds Rip City this summer. The team has just five players under contract for next season, with Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez being chief among the team's free agents.
While Aldridge has expressed a desire to stay in Portland in the past, a recent report from ESPN.com's Marc Stein would seem to counter that logic: "Yet 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."
While the Blazers could certainly get better compensation in a sign-and-trade than Splitter, that option becomes less feasible if Aldridge has his heart set on the Alamo. The Spurs could add other pieces to the deal, but Splitter would have to be thrown in to make things work financially.
Also, Lopez's potential departure gives added motivation for Portland to consider Splitter if Aldridge does indeed head to San Antonio. According to Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune, Lopez would love to stick around, but that's not a guarantee.
"Nothing is 100 percent certain," Lopez said. "So far, I've loved my time in Portland. I would love to come back. I'm very open to coming back."
For the Blazers, retaining Lopez over adding Splitter is the better option. Lopez is three years younger, a better rebounder and a superior shot-blocker, and he would likely command less than the $17 million Splitter is owed over the next two seasons.
However, if Lopez opts for greener pastures elsewhere, Portland would suddenly be in need of a center, and the potential reshuffling of the roster makes Rip City less of a free-agent draw as the team would enter a rebuilding mode.
As tough as it would be to replace Aldridge, using the four-time All-Star to get something in return wouldn't be the worst idea if he plans to find a new team this summer.
All statistics courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. NBA draft information is via RealGM.com, while payroll analysis comes from BasketballInsiders.com.
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