NBA Trade Rumors: Danny Green on Spurs trading block

Jan 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) reacts to a call in the second half at an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Spurs won 108-106. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) reacts to a call in the second half at an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Spurs won 108-106. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Antonio Spurs are up to something, aren’t they? They have reportedly made starting shooting guard Danny Green available for trade this summer.

After getting swept by the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 Western Conference Finals, it might be time for the San Antonio Spurs to recalibrate their roster. While they have been linked to being a potential suitor for Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul in free agency, the Spurs might need to free up some cap space to do so. Could that involve trading away a starter like shooting guard Danny Green.

According to Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News, “the Spurs are open to trading guard Danny Green. No deal is close as of yet.” Are the Spurs about to be a big player in free agency this summer, especially after they possibly move Green?

San Antonio already has two star-level players in small forward Kawhi Leonard and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. However, Leonard’s braids and Aldridge’s preference to playing traditional power forward have this team frankly not good enough to beat the Warriors at its current state.

Trading Green could open up some space for the Spurs to work with. He is under contract through 2017-18 at $10 million with a player option for the same amount in 2018-19. San Antonio revitalized Green’s NBA career after a lousy first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A few years later, he has become a reliable starter for the Spurs. He has averaged 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in his last seven seasons with the Spurs. While Green can never be leaned on to carry an offensive workload, he has been an accurate sharpshooter for the Spurs for some time now. He is a career 40.0 percent shooter from 3-point range.

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Though Green does have value on the market given the position he plays, there are other rotational players on the Spurs roster that would conceivably garner more in an offer. Those players would have to include wing Jonathan Simmons and point guard Dejounte Murray. Guard Patty Mills is a valued asset, but he will be a free agent this summer.