San Antonio Spurs Trade Value Rankings Heading into 2016-17 NBA Trade Deadline
Although the San Antonio Spurs are likely to stay on the outside of the upcoming trade-deadline discussion, their roster is riddled with valuable players.
Based solely on performance, there would be a relatively clear ranking. However, an assessment of the roster must consider each player's contract as well as the importance of his role.
Additionally, the value is determined using both sides' perspectives, while San Antonio's loyalty is a factor. For example, it's unwise to suggest the Spurs' longtime players will be traded for anything less than an unrealistic haul.
San Antonio's "untouchable" category kicks off the list, which also includes an overview of possible developments at the deadline.
Untouchable
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Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward
The only way San Antonio would trade its 25-year-old superstar is for an impractical return not even worth hypothesizing.
Kawhi Leonard isn't just the future of the franchise; he's the now.
Leonard is an elite two-way player who's developed into a versatile offensive attacker. He is efficient from every area on the court after starring as a defensive nightmare for years. Talent like Leonard is not available in every draft, and the Spurs aren't going to waste him.
Manu Ginobili, Shooting Guard
Like Run-DMC said, it's tricky.
Manu Ginobili is a necessary piece of San Antonio's roster despite not filling a truly featured role. The 39-year-old is an average to above-average defender, shooter and creator, but the Spurs need his veteran leadership in the second unit, too.
That by itself is reason enough to not trade the Argentine, and his status as a franchise legend also reduces the risk. Perhaps most importantly for any team with feigned interest, Ginobili's contract is prohibitive. He's due $14 million, per Basketball Insiders.
High Value
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LaMarcus Aldridge, Power Forward
Once the subject of preseason trade rumors, according to ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan (h/t CSNNE.com), LaMarcus Aldridge has the highest value of anyone not named Kawhi Leonard.
Aldridge proved himself as a dominant scorer with the Portland Trail Blazers. And though the power forward's role no longer entails carrying the offense on a nightly basis, he's shown that ability in scattered games and sometimes even in clutch moments.
Most of the NBA would love to have a player like Aldridge leading its scoring attack, but he runs an expensive price tag—one that would likely include a combination of an established frontcourt player and draft capital. San Antonio may not even meaningfully entertain a trade before this hopeful championship run.
Danny Green, Shooting Guard
Back in the summer of 2015, the question for the Spurs was how to keep a majority of the championship-winning roster intact while trying to add Aldridge. Tim Duncan and Ginobili sacrificed money to help that happen, and so did Danny Green.
According to Basketball Insiders, he's signed through next season with a player option for 2018-19. While $10 million annually might not sound cheap, that's about half of his actual market value.
Three-and-D standouts of Green's caliber aren't easy to find, especially at his rate. San Antonio would need a "wow" offer to consider dealing the 29-year-old guard.
Dewayne Dedmon, Center
Finding rim protectors is difficult for two reasons: Size doesn't automatically equate to defensive success, and it usually cannot be signed for such an affordable price.
Yet the Spurs plucked a gem in Dewayne Dedmon, who is due $2.9 million this season and holds a $3 million player option for 2017-18. He's become an integral piece of the rotation.
If packaged with a hefty contract like Pau Gasol in exchange for a bona fide defensive superstar, Dedmon would be available. But it's also safe to assume other NBA teams aren't looking to trade a Rudy Gobert-like player for a veteran and a role guy.
Dejounte Murray, Point Guard
If his recent play hasn't sparked intrigue for the future, you must not be watching the same Dejounte Murray. The rookie scored 24 points against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 19 and boosted the Spurs with 14 points and five assists during an overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 21.
Contrary to what Parker's surges may suggest, he will not play forever. The only reason San Antonio would part with Murray is to include him in a trade for an established star at the position—which we can confidently say is not happening.
Medium Value
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Patty Mills, Point Guard
Patty Mills fits the high-value category as a player. He's an established marksman who has developed into a true point guard, shooting 42.8 percent from long range and dishing 3.3 assists per game.
But what drives down the Australian's worth is an expiring contract. Per Basketball Insiders, Mills is due $3.6 million this season.
If San Antonio had a losing record and were a seller at the deadline, Mills could fetch a potential lottery pick from a team desperate to reach the playoffs. However, he's the best three-point shooter for a championship contender. His greatest value to San Antonio is being on the roster.
Pau Gasol, Center
A broken finger complicates and slightly dips Gasol's trade value, but it borders on high and medium anyway.
The veteran is expected to focus on the defensive end in San Antoni while contributing as a third or fourth scorer. However, Gasol is still capable of regularly occupying that secondary role on a different team—or if Leonard or Aldridge gets injured.
As long as San Antonio views Gasol's signing as a steadily improving success, he shouldn't be changing teams. The Spurs would need a defensive-minded talent with offensive upside in return, but in this market, those options are limited at best.
Tony Parker, Point Guard
San Antonio is willing to tolerate Tony Parker's extended absences, and he's a beloved part of the franchise. But the 34-year-old shouldn't be entirely off-limits because of his contract, which runs through the 2017-18 campaign for $15.5 million.
Considering his production and penchant for lingering injuries, that's a hefty price for a buyer to pay for a complementary piece. Besides, it's improbable he'll get moved anyway.
Jonathon Simmons, Swingman
Kyle Anderson and Jonathon Simmons are constantly competing for the main rotation role, but the latter has earned his minutes as the backup small forward. While the Spurs undoubtedly want more consistency from the Houston product, Simmons is an intriguing talent.
Whether it's San Antonio or a prospective trade partner, it's wise to bet on his potential. Simmons has all the athletic tools, so the task is refining them. But since he's not a proven player, his trade value is relatively average with the future possibility to soar.
David Lee, Power Forward
"Ring chasing" is the negative spin, but giving up a large payday in pursuit of a championship is perfectly sensible. While the veteran's minimum contract is valuable enough, David Lee has experienced a late-career resurgence with San Antonio.
To be clear: Lee himself isn't a franchise savior. He's a quality reserve big in an ideal system. But the Spurs aren't going to find a comparable replacement on such a team-friendly contract.
Davis Bertans, Power Forward
The rookie is slightly more than a "filler" piece because of his potential. Davis Bertans is still working on becoming a more complete NBA player, but it's a luxury to have a 6'10" project who sports a 40.9 three-point percentage.
He certainly wouldn't fetch a first-round pick, but the Latvian is worth more than spare parts.
Kyle Anderson, Small Forward
What does he do extremely well? Nothing.
What is especially problematic for Anderson? Nothing.
Though the trade market for a player like that is minimal, it doesn't mean the UCLA product is worthless. San Antonio can keep him as an injury insurance policy, but Anderson could be a rotational piece on numerous NBA rosters as a guy who can run the offense and finish the occasional play.
Throw-Ins and Fillers
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Bryn Forbes, Shooting Guard
The Spurs have kept Bryn Forbes on the roster as a project player. Their hope is he can develop into a knockdown shooter who isn't a defensive liability. Forbes alone won't fetch a noteworthy return, but if the need were to present itself, there's always a market for shooters if a trade partner is willing to devote a spot on the roster.
Joel Anthony, Center
A short-term addition after Gasol's injury, Joel Anthony is not eligible to be traded. Even if he were, no team would ship an asset for the veteran, who was available until San Antonio's emergency signing.
Why a Trade Is Unlikely
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We'll re-emphasize: The Spurs usually aren't a major player at the trade deadline, and the 2017 cutoff will likely be no different.
Nevertheless, front offices are constantly analyzing who is available and what it would take to acquire a given player. Part of that entails judging the value of their own rosters for a comparable asset.
Rather than explore meaningful trade targets again, we'll lay out San Antonio's outlook for the market: A blockbuster transaction means the Spurs are admitting the Aldridge signing has failed (it hasn't), Gasol is expendable, there is a realistic upgrade for Green or the acquired player is special.
But it's slightly more complicated than that.
Unless the team were to ship Parker (again, nearly impossible), any trade for someone worth more than about $2 million must include one of those three players to meet salary-cap rules. Why $2 million? Because Mills, Dedmon and Lee are too valuable at their current prices, and no other player has a salary above $1.2 million.
San Antonio has minimal cap space, so the most likely course of action—which doesn't mean probable—would be to swap a draft pick for a player once Anthony's roster spot is vacant.
Stats as of Feb. 1 and from NBA.com or Basketball-Reference.com. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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