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San Antonio Spurs: DeMar DeRozan trade suggested by ESPN analyst

By Andrew Ites

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 28: Demar Derozan #10 speaks with Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 28, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 28: Demar Derozan #10 speaks with Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 28, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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There has been speculation among San Antonio Spurs fans about trading DeMar DeRozan this offseason, but now a former NBA general manager is suggesting the same idea.

Last week, I wrote that the San Antonio Spurs should trade DeMar DeRozan this summer.

Former Nets general manager and current front office insider for ESPN Bobby Marks went on Ryen Russillo’s podcast after that article was published and laid out how and why the Spurs would consider trading DeRozan this offseason.

Marks mentioned trading DeRozan as a precursor to signing Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic in free agency, which Dylan Carter wrote about here.

The Spurs probably won’t be able to sign Bogdanovic, which Marks described as a free agent that the front office has “circled” heading into the offseason, without dumping one of their larger contracts in a trade.

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The “reports” that come from speculation on podcasts heading into the offseason are often pretty nebulous, but it sounds like Bobby Marks has some good intel on this rumor.

This combination of moves would make sense for the Spurs for a few different reasons.

First, DeRozan has the ability to opt out of the final year of his contract and walk away from San Antonio next summer. The Spurs can’t afford to let him walk away for nothing if DeRozan doesn’t see himself as a Spur for life.

The backcourt is also getting quite crowded in San Antonio as Dejounte Murray should be healthy next season after spending this year recovering from a torn ACL, Derrick White proved he can be a good starting point guard in this league, and the Spurs should be looking to find more minutes for Lonnie Walker in year two.

That may leave DeRozan as the odd man out in San Antonio’s deep backcourt.

Finally, the Spurs desperately need to add a reliable wing this offseason and they may not have the resources to get that done with their current salary cap situation.

Clearing cap space in a DeRozan trade may be the best way to get one of their top wing targets in free agency, if Marks’ sources regarding the Spurs’ interest in Bojan Bogdanovic are correct.

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