2016 NBA Free Agency: 1 move every team needs to make to be contenders

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs won 41 of 42 home games last season and up until the end of the Golden State 73-win run, they were right there with them trying to get home court and first place in the West. It was a bit surprising given the tradition the Spurs had in the past of resting their players for the postseason, but that’s kind of how the Spurs are changing – they have the old guard with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, paired with two younger players ready to win now in Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldrige. In the playoffs, they ran out of gas in their front court against a young and physical Thunder team.

That’s why for the 2016-17 season the Spurs need to focus on getting a Tim Duncan replacement. Al Horford and even Kevin Durant could fit the bill, but I don’t know that the Spurs can land that kind of top free agent two years running. They certainly have the reputation for doing so, but they only have about 11 million in cap space. So their options are limited unless they make some trades. Plus Manu Ginobili’s cap hold still remains a question for 2016–17.

At center, they could try to continue with Boban Marjanovic. But to compete now they’ll need to try and get another piece. Which is why Al Jefferson — or someone like him — is a perfect fit. Big Al will be likely to return to Charlotte, but he has to wait in line behind Nicolas Batum. That could be enough time for a sit down with the Spurs to convince him to take a discount for a real run at a ring. Jefferson wouldn’t be the first player to take less to come to the Spurs (David West did so last year). And Big Al would be able to give the Spurs back the edge on the boards and int he paint to play with teams like the Thunder.

Next: Toronto Raptors