Spurs: The Athletic posts conflicting Aldridge rumors minutes apart

The San Antonio Spurs have 10 days to find a trade partner to unload LaMarcus Aldridge. The good news? One insider for The Athletic seems to think a trade is fairly likely given the amount of interest from several GMs. The bad news? Another Athletic insider thinks the situation is headed toward a buyout.

Given the Spurs’ track history of never trading in the middle of a season, it’s hard to favor the former opinion until we see it for ourselves. After all, San Antonio hasn’t dealt mid-season since 2014 when they traded Nando De Colo for Austin Daye. Still, there hasn’t been this much trade buzz around the Alamo City in years.

While it would certainly be favorable for the Spurs to get something instead of nothing, Aldridge’s contract doesn’t make finding a suitable deal easy.

Sam Amick indicates San Antonio Spurs trading Aldridge seems inevitable

The first article discussing LaMarcus came Monday morning in Sam Amick’s NBA Trade ‘Big Board’ (subscription required). In a short blurb about the situation, Amick says there are still five teams well in the hunt for Aldridge’s services. He also goes as far as to assure all indications point to the Spurs dealing the seven-time All-Star instead of having to buy him out.

Despite the confidence that the Spurs can find a trade partner, Amick does admit the contract situation makes a deal challenging.

John Hollinger hints the San Antonio Spurs may be headed for a buyout

Within an hour of Amick’s article, John Hollinger published his thoughts (subscription required) on guys likely to be traded in the next couple of weeks. In his paragraph about Aldridge, he wasn’t nearly as confident that a deal could be made.

Referring to Aldridge’s salary as a “major impediment,” Hollinger capped off his summary of the situation by stating it’s likely to be headed for a buyout by the Spurs.

The conflicting rumors just go to show you how tight-lipped things always are surrounding this franchise. Even guys like Shams Charania haven’t been able to report anything with any substance about what could be in the works.

If a trade happens, I have a feeling it will be sudden and feature players no one even saw coming. No matter the case, the Spurs have 10 days to figure something out.