A Post-Draft Look At What The Spurs Could Do In Free Agency

Now that the NBA Draft is over and the Spurs have gotten their guy, it’s time to move forward and begin to go after free agents and fine-tune the team.

The Spurs have a glaring need for a true center who can protect the rim, and more prolific outside shooters on the wings would be a nice luxury to have as well. The trick to it, though, is the uncertainty that lies within the future of some players- and subsequently their salaries.

The Spurs, currently, aren’t projected to have the cap space needed to sign an impact player this summer, but with the movement of just a few players, San Antonio could very well free up enough money to take a crack at a big name.

More from Air Alamo

• Devin Vassell is the latest in the Spurs’ collection of silent assassins
• San Antonio Spurs: 5 Players to avoid in any LaMarcus Aldridge deal
• Is Gregg Popovich hiding Luka Samanic as a secret weapon?
• San Antonio Spurs News: More DeRozan trade talk from Chris Haynes
• Spurs fans show Dejounte Murray support, buy all the New Balance shoes

What the Spurs could do in order to free up said space is: drop Kevin Martin, Andre Miller, Matt Bonner (I know, it’s going to break my heart, too), and Boris Diaw (another sad departure), as well as restructure the contract of Manu Ginobilli for a cheaper deal. David West will opt out of his contract, and have Tim Duncan retire (the saddest departure of them all). All of those contracts being freed up, with the additions of foreign prospects Davis Bertans and

Livio-Jean Charles

, it will project the Spurs about $18 Million. Another trade that could move Patty Mills or Danny Green could put the Spurs over the $20-$25 million mark.

So now that the Spurs, hypothetically, have money to spend. Who do they pursue? We’ll, review a glaring need that the Spurs have-a true center.

The centers on the market this summer that fit the bill are plentiful and of very high quality; with Hassan Whiteside, Al Horford, Bismack Biyombo, Dwight Howard, and Joa-

May 8, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shoots the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the first half in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

kim Noah all available, the Spurs could have some options. Of course, these guys would likely to have to take less money to sign with the Spurs, but the thought of winning a championship can very much outweigh a few million dollars.

While any of those centers would be a safe bet to impact the Spurs in a positive way, the player that would seemingly fit in with the Spurs style the most is the guy who is coming from being coached by a former Spurs coach: Horford. Horford is someone who has never really been in the spotlight, has often been underrated, and is a rather team-oriented guy, or in other words; a perfect candidate to fill the Spurs’ need at center.

Horford brings top quality on both sides of the ball from the center position, and would be part of what could be the best front-court in the NBA next to LaMarcus Aldridge. Due to the fact that Horford is a team-oriented, non-spotlight guy, he would also be the most likely to take a pay-cut for the chance to win a title. Though even with that pay-cut from market value, it would take almost all of that $20 million that the Spurs would presumably have.

Next: Soft Power of the San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs could find a true gem in Al Horford, as someone who could secure their frontcourt and give them an incredible rebounder. Though no matter who is signed to play in the Silver & Black, it has become a certainty that the fans can trust the front office the Spurs.