San Antonio Spurs: 5 Potential Suitors for Danny Green

May 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) shoots the ball during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game four of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs are reportedly shopping Danny Green, so where could he go?

On Wednesday evening, Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News reported the San Antonio Spurs being open to dealing Danny Green this offseason. Green is entering the final year of his contract, before he gets to his player option for the 2018-19 NBA season.

As Pounding the Rock noted, a potential Green trade would open $10 million in salary for the Spurs. It’s convenient timing, as free agency approaches and a big-name target, rumored to speak with San Antonio.

Possible suitors for Green weren’t listed in the report, leaving any franchise as an option. Who stands out the most for him, though?

Dec 6, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A view of the Chicago Bulls logo on a pair of official Stance socks at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 102-91.Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

5. Chicago Bulls

From the start of the 2016-17 season, the Chicago Bulls looked flawed. Outside of Jimmy Butler, they lacked a perimeter game. Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo were never known to be dynamic shooters, and it showed throughout the year.

Any perimeter scoring the Bulls can get is beneficial. It’s why they make sense as a suitor for Danny Green, no matter how poorly he played last season.

Unlike in San Antonio, Green won’t start in Chicago. He would sit behind Wade and Butler, if the latter remains. That may be a better scenario for the former Tar Heel, who would work in a lower pressure situation rather than starting.

The salary cap space is there for the Bulls, with about $15 million open for this offseason. However, would they sacrifice $10 million of it toward Green on a rental? It’s questionable and depends how desperate they are for the help. The compensation requirement may not be much, so everyone will have to see how much help Chicago needs the assistance.

Next: New Orleans Pelicans

Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The New Orleans Pelicans logo on a players shorts at Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers won 107-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

4. New Orleans Pelicans

When the New Orleans Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins, they formed one of the best big-man duos in the NBA, already having Anthony Davis in place. It’s a core that can be built around, even as the current league landscape trends smaller.

However, the Pelicans faced issues with outside scoring. They lost Buddy Hield — the team’s 2016 1st-round pick — Langston Galloway and Tyreke Evans in the Cousins deal, so shooting guard became a position of need. It was something the team dealt with from the NBA Trade Deadline to the end of the season.

Jordan Crawford was brought in for the final 19 games, and provided steady production at two-guard. Can he be fully relied on, though, after bouncing around for most of his NBA career?

Even if Crawford returns, depth is needed at two-guard badly. It makes the Pelicans one of the most logical fits for Danny Green — if the Spurs take on cap space.

Jrue Holiday will be a priority for the Pelicans to bring back, and if they do, he’ll take up the remaining money they have available. Giving out hefty deals to Alex Ajinca and Omer Asik didn’t help. They were there before Cousins arrived, but their presences aren’t needed as much with the formidable duo that can play 30-35 minutes per game, each.

Next: Miami Heat

Oct 28, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; A general view of center court logo before a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat on opening night at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

3. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat will have about $30 million in cap space available, which immediately puts them in play for Danny Green. The need may be there, too, depending on how things shape up in free agency.

Dion Waiters, who emerged as a starter with the Heat, if a free agent. He could command a hefty contract, potentially leading to Miami letting him go.

Josh Richardson has another year left on his dealt, albeit non-guaranteed. He only shot 33 percent from three-point range last season and could be better suited for a bench role.

Wayne Ellington arguably had a career year with the Heat, but is a free agent. He could earn more money than ever and be gone from the organization this summer.

This all sets the tone for the Heat to target Green, paying him for one year at a potentially lower rate than most shooting guards, especially with the salary cap rising. He can receive starting minutes or be an eighth of ninth man, replacing someone like Ellington.

If Richardson’s non-guaranteed deal is kept and Waiters re-signs, then it may take the Heat away from Green negotiations. However, if this happens before the NBA Draft, then there may be a better chance of this happening, so the organization can lock down a position before free agency.

Next: Brooklyn Nets

Apr 1, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Archie Goodwin (10) celebrates with guard Spencer Dinwiddie (8) in the fourth quarter against Orlando Magic at Barclays Center. Nets win 121-111. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

2. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are still in a state of transition, although they took a step forward with the D’Angelo Russell trade. It forced them to acquire Timofey Mozgov’s contract and give up Brook Lopez, but it marked a direction toward rebuilding.

The Nets could use anything toward a rebuild or making this team look better than it did last season. Whether that’s taking on salary or just getting in fresh players, it should be done. That alone may make Danny Green a candidate to go to Brooklyn from the San Antonio Spurs.

There are already in-house options at shooting guard like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Joe Harris and Caris Levert. While Levert showed promise, Harris is on a non-guaranteed deal and Hollis-Jefferson is more of a defensive presence.

Sean Kilpatrick can’t be forgotten, either, as the likely starter for next season. However, Green could be a quality player to spell him, being a potential upgrade over Harris and splitting minutes with Levert. It’s likely only for one season, so the latter man can step into a bigger role the season afterward.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers

Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

1. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers will likely get Markelle Fultz in Thursday’s NBA Draft. Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and other young pieces are in place, too. However, under the Bryan Colangelo regime, they haven’t shied away from adding veterans and may build on that in the offseason.

Depth at shooting guard is a need for the Sixers. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot showed promise in his rookie season, but outside of him, there’s Gerald Henderson and Nik Stauskas; the former is a free agent and the latter fits in as a shooter off the bench.

While Green’s recent production doesn’t stand out much from Henderson or Stauskas, he can fill in for one of the soon-to-be-departed players, crossing off one thing to do in free agency. The Sixers also avoid giving out a multi-year deal with money they may regret in one or two years (see Joakim Noah, Knicks and Timofey Mozgov, formerly of the Lakers).

Green’s $10 million contract can easily be absorbed into Philadelphia’s open cap space. They could have over $40 million available to spend this summer, so there shouldn’t be an issue taking this player on, unless the compensation doesn’t make sense. If the San Antonio Spurs are desperate to move him, then a second-round pick could do it.

Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft with LaMarcus Aldridge Trade

Where might the San Antonio Spurs move Green to? Who makes the most sense as a fit?