HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Marc Narducci

When the San Antonio Spurs got off to a 2-5 start and were hobbled with some key injuries, it was open game for the skeptics. One nitwit even suggested that if things didn’t improve that the Spurs faced the real prospect of missing the postseason for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

Sadly, the person who wrote that forgettable sentence was yours truly in an article for HoopsHype.com during the second week of November.

Fast forward to the post NBA all-star break portion of the season and the Spurs are in their accustomed position of challenging for an NBA title.

Two points should be made of the situation.

One, you shouldn’t believe everything you read. And second, it’s both unwise and premature to begin doubting the capability of San Antonio.

In fairness to the skeptics (i.e. me) Manu Ginobili still hadn’t played early in the season while recovering from ankle surgery. Adding to the Spurs woes, Tony Parker had just suffered a sprained ankle on Nov. 7 in a 99-83 loss to Miami that dropped their record to 1-4.

So the Spurs faced the prospect of competing without two of the Big Three, while the third member of that trio, Tim Duncan was forced to play extended minutes early in the season.

Of course doom didn’t appear on the Spurs’ doorstep. Ginobili’s return provided the expected major spark. In his first 38 games back, the Spurs were 29-9.

Parker missed nine games and the Spurs still managed to go 7-2 in those contests.

Duncan, who was averaging nearly 40 minutes per game early in the season, now has his season average to a manageable 35.3 per game. Look for that total to drop over the final 31 games of the season.

Nobody does a better job of getting his team ready for the postseason than coach Gregg Popovich.

So what happened?

The Spurs have received better than expected production from Roger Mason, who is averaging 11.9 points per game and shooting 44.9 percent from beyond the arc. Plus, as the Phoenix Suns will attest to, Mason has shown a penchant for hitting one big shot after another.

Duncan has in his own quiet way continued to be a 20 and 10 machine. When Parker and Ginobili were both out of the lineup, he carried the team.

Both before and after his injury, Parker has been a dominant point guard and a deserving all-star selection and Ginobili remains as one of the top clutch performers in the NBA.

It has all added up to earning the Spurs the second best record in the Western Conference at the all-star break (35-16).

The Spurs have answered the question of being an NBA title contender. The bigger question is can they win with the team intact or do they have to make a move by the trade deadline?

Good question.

The Spurs can no doubt contend, but contending and winning it all are two different things.

It would appear as if the Spurs would have to add an extra piece if they have designs of winning their fifth NBA title since 1999.

Of course the Spurs have been among the teams rumored to have interest in New Jersey’s Vince Carter. And there is no doubt that adding Carter would move the Spurs right into Laker territory.

However, from this vantage point, it would be a surprise if the Spurs would be able to pull this off.

The Nets would seem to want a potential starter and a possible huge expiring contract and the Spurs don’t seem like a fit here.

Of course there could be other additions that are less expensive that could help the Spurs. For instance Sacramento’s John Salmons has been mentioned as being available and somebody like that who plays good defense and is quietly averaging 18.3 points per game, would be a welcome addition.

Of course, Salmons is scoring a lot of points on a bad Kings team, but the fact remains that he would provide the Spurs with the type of depth they need.

One problem is that the Spurs don’t have a lot to offer other teams. Dangling a player like Bruce Bowen isn’t going to bring a hefty return.

If San Antonio could add a piece, then the Spurs would be awfully dangerous. As it is now, they still will be a difficult team in the playoffs.

Still, one would have to worry about the Spurs depth unless players such as Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas suddenly find the fountain of youth.

And Duncan has carried such a big load this year, that one has to wonder if a player who turns 33 in April will wear down at all when the postseason rolls along.

Keep in mind that there are other teams that would like to have the Spurs so-called problems. With three players who are as dangerous as any trio in the Western Conference, the Spurs have the capability to beat anybody.

Whether changes are made or not, one sure bet is that nobody will relish facing the Spurs in the postseason.

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The names have been bandied about for some time and will obviously be until the Feb. 19 NBA trade deadline. Contenders looking to get that extra edge will have a choice at a number of available current stars, once-stars and serviceable players.

You’ve heard all the rumors and here’s a speculative look at some of the possible destinations for those listed prominently in rumorsville.

Amare Stoudemire. The 26-year-old Phoenix power forward appears to be the best player available. He is on the books for more than $15 million this year can opt out of his player contract after the 2009-2010 season.

It’s apparent that Phoenix wouldn’t mind parting with him, but this has to be more than just a salary dump, although receiving an expiring contract won’t hurt. The Suns also need players who can help them immediately.

It has been suggested in various media outlets that the Bulls could offer the expiring $7.1 million contract of Drew Gooden, Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas and a possible first round pick for Stoudemire. This would be a dangerous move for Phoenix, because it would be accepting back two players, Noah and Thomas, who are athletic, but have been wildly inconsistent.

CBSSportsline.com has reported among others that Portland has talked to Phoenix, with LaMarcus Aldridge, Jerryd Bayless and the expiring $12.7 million contract of Raef LaFrentz being rumored. (To make this trade work, Phoenix would also have to throw in another players such as Goran Dragic).

Still, one would have to wonder if Phoenix really wants to make a trade with a Western Conference team, although the Suns likely would pull the trigger if it meant they got the best value.

Miami continues to be mentioned as a possible destination but for that to happen, the Suns might have to take back the expiring $17.1 million contract of Shawn Marion and that doesn’t seem likely to happen.

One trade that would work without including Marion is if the Heat sent Michael Beasley, Marcus Banks and Udonis Haslem to Phoenix for Stoudemire. Again, would that be enough?

Toronto has been another rumored destination, but it doesn’t appear as if the Raptors have enough to interest Phoenix.

There will be plenty of other teams that will make pitches to Stoudemire for one simple reason – they know he is available.

Vince Carter. Had the New Jersey Nets been a winning team, Carter may have been an all-star this season. He still has plenty left in his game, but also two more years on his contract after this season, plus a team option.

If the Nets are just looking to dump salary, then Carter to Cleveland for Wally Szczerbiak’s expiring $13 million contract and rookie J.J. Hickson would work. However despite a contract that will have more than $33 million the next two years, the Nets should look for more value for Carter.

Cleveland would be the perfect fit for Carter, who would give the Cavs a great third option along with LeBron James and Mo Williams.

Mike Miller. Last season he was on the trading block at the deadline but stayed with Memphis and didn’t get dealt to Minnesota until draft night. Miller would be a good fit in Cleveland and at $9 million this year and $9.7 million next season, would be a less expensive option than Carter.

Again, this would probably only work if the Wolves are looking to dump salary. The biggest chip the Cavs have is to trade is Szczerbiak’s expiring contract. Cleveland could trade Szczerbiak and Hickson to Minnesota for Miller and Brian Cardinal (owed $6.7 million next year). Both Miller and Cardinal have contracts that expire after next the 2009-2010 season.

San Antonio would also be a good destination for Miller.

Tyson Chandler. The New Orleans center will make nearly $12 million next season and has a player option for 2010-2011. Sports Illustrated had a potential rumor of Chandler going to Detroit for Rasheed Wallace and his expiring contract. That is probably a deal the Pistons would make quicker than the Hornets. New Orleans would receive cap relief but the Hornet would then be looking for a center after this year if they couldn’t re-sign Wallace.

With Andrew Bynum hurt again, the Lakers would be a good place for Chandler, but would New Orleans want to trade him to a Western Conference team? Plus the Lakers don’t have anybody of consequence that they would apparently be willing to trade. Lamar Odom’s name always comes up, but with Bynum hurt again, and the Lakers playing to win it this year, it wouldn’t make sense to trade him.

Miami, with Marion being the best bait, has also been among the teams listed in rumorsville for Chandler.

Two salaries that match up are Chandler and Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert. Each have been inconsistent this year and could a change of scenery help both?

Again, this is purely speculation, something that is rampant this time of year.

Shawn Marion. Finding a team that Marion hasn’t been mentioned in a trade rumor is a difficult proposition. With an expiring contract worth more than $17 million, Marion’s name has been linked to many teams, with Cleveland and Toronto heading the list. One thing is for sure – no matter who Marion signs with after this season, it will be difficult to command the salary he is earning now.

Brad Miller and anybody else on the Sacramento Kings. It appears as if any member of the Kings, with the possible exception of Kevin Martin, is available. Miller, whose contract expires next season when he will earn more than $12 million, has been linked with teams such as New York, Chicago and Miami. (Which player on the trading block hasn’t been linked with Miami?). Miller has been out with a left hip flexor strain and one wonders if that would hurt his trade value. John Salmons is a name that has drawn interest and there are some contenders such as San Antonio, where he could be a contributing rotation player.

Jamaal Tinsley. The Pacers have told him to stay home all season so he has been collecting his salary of nearly $7 million, one that has an additional $14 million remaining the next two years.

There was a rumor that Charlotte was considering a multi-player deal that would include Raymond Felton for Tinsley. Charlotte shot that down and rightly so. Felton is emerging as a highly productive point guard.

With Jameer Nelson possibly out for the season, Orlando is in need of a point guard, but the Magic recently acquired veteran Tyronn Lue.

If Indiana is able to unload Tinsley it would be a solid move regardless of what the Pacers got back.

Joe Smith. Not the biggest of name, but he’s a player who many contenders would covet if available. Smith has an expiring $4.7 million contract with Oklahoma City and if he became available in a trade (or if the Thunder bought him out), contenders such as  Boston, San Antonio and his former Cleveland team would surely inquire about his services.

The O’Neals. Phoenix probably wouldn’t mind parting with Shaquille O’Neal and things haven’t worked in Toronto for Jermaine O’Neal. The problem is that both players have seen their better days and each has a huge contract that doesn’t expire until after the 2009-2010 season. Jermaine is owed nearly $23 million next year and Shaq is on the books for $20 million in 2009-2010.

Miami, which traded Shaq, is still mentioned as a potential suitor for Jermaine.

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