Fansided

NBA offseason trade targets divided by tiers

By Bryan Toporek

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 25, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 25, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

TIER: DNP — old

LaMarcus Aldridge

DeMar DeRozan

Patty Mills

Rudy Gay

The San Antonio Spurs are stuck between the end of one era and the beginning of another.

If (when?) DeMar DeRozan picks up his $27.7 million player option for the 2020-21 season, the Spurs will have four 30-something veterans on expiring contracts: DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills. None profile as long-term fixtures in San Antonio, so the Spurs could look to turn the page and trade some of them away after they snapped their 22-year playoff streak this past season.

The Spurs do have a promising young backcourt in Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker IV, while Keldon Johnson, Trey Lyles, Jakob Poeltl and Luka Samanic are question marks up front. San Antonio might not go into a full teardown with Gregg Popovich at the helm, but pivoting toward a youth movement is the logical path forward.

That means DeRozan, Aldridge, Gay and Mills should be available to the highest bidder.

The Spurs won’t land a star in return for any of these veterans, but they should be willing to take on bloated contracts if they also get young talent and/or future draft compensation. The more swings they get at finding their next foundational pieces, the better.

Aldridge ($24 million) could be of particular interest to the Miami Heat, who will likely look to toe the line between bolstering their supporting cast and keeping their books clean for a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021. Gay and Mills are more complementary players at this stage of their careers, but they could nevertheless help contenders in smaller roles.

The Spurs might take a step back if they trade some of their veterans away, but it could help them bolster the next iteration of their team.

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