San Antonio Spurs and the loss of LaMarcus Aldridge
You can make a case that a big part of the San Antonio Spurs‘ disappointing 2019-20 season falls on the shoulders of LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan. Not many would argue with you. However, at the same rate, you can’t also dispute that the Spurs will be in a difficult position as they inch closer to resuming the 2019-20 season without its second-leading scorer.
A few days ago, it was announced that Aldridge would miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in April. Aldridge was averaging 19 points and seven rebounds per game before the NBA entered a hiatus in March.
When the NBA resumes July 31, the Spurs will have a puncher’s chance at making the playoffs. Unfortunately, they’ll only have eight games to make up three games in the loss column. I’m not sure if the Spurs would even have a reasonable shot at full strength, much less without Aldridge.
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San Antonio Spurs could face a franchise-changing offseason
Assuming that the Spurs will miss the playoffs, this would be the first time in more than two decades that San Antonio won’t be participating in the postseason.
That could lead to a potential overhaul to the roster. Their current cap sheet could also open the door to such moves, considering that both LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan will be expiring contracts next season.
It could open the door for potential trades if the Spurs indeed elect to shift towards a rebuild or even a retooling of the roster.
San Antonio might need to go down that route, short of the team’s ability to sign a big-name free agency during the summer of 2021. As it currently stands, you can make a case that the Spurs have one (maybe two) foundational pieces on its roster – Derrick White and/or Dejounte Murray.
After that, the Spurs’ roster leaves much to be desired and without a clear direction. It’s difficult to predict what exactly the offseason will look like for the Spurs, but it’s hard to think that there won’t be at least some changes coming to the franchise.
The loss of LaMarcus Aldridge may have forced the San Antonio Spurs’ hands into a franchise-changing offseason.