The San Antonio Spurs lost in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and they're looking to bolster their roster in free agency to remain championship contenders for the foreseeable future. Here are three players they should pursue in free agency:
PF LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio will have an enormous amount cap space this summer – especially if Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retire – and Gregg Popovich reportedly sees Aldridge as someone who can fill Duncan’s role to a tee. His shooting ability keeps driving lanes open, but he’s also dominant on the low block and is a good passer.
Aldridge is from Texas and played for the Longhorns in his one year of college, and has gushed about Popovich and the Spurs organization numerous times. Even though the Lakers are making a late push to sign him, many around the league believe that him signing with San Antonio is a foregone conclusion.
Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Gasol is target No. 1 for a lot of teams around the league, and he should be. For the Spurs, he’s the perfect fit for head coach Gregg Popovich's system due to his deft passing touch, and he’ll give the Spurs a true defensive presence in the post. Gasol is also a threat offensively even though he doesn’t need any plays to be called for him, another plus for San Antonio's team-first playing style. He wouldn't directly replace Duncan since he's a true center, and he probably won't be effective playing next to Tiago Splitter. However, he is one of the best big men in the league and would immediately make the Spurs better.
Wesley Matthews, SG, Portland Trail Blazers
Matthews is one of the best two-way shooting guards in the league and is due for a big pay day. He’ll demand a little less than the max, but even for the Spurs (who don't like to spend much), he could be worth every penny of it. Matthews leads in the NBA in three-pointers made and would fit right in to San Antonio's long range attack. His defensive prowess, coupled with Kawhi Leonard, would make the Spurs one of the best perimeter defending teams in the league.
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