The good thing for the spurs is that they really don't need a player back...Bertans is a MUCH better fit for this offense than LMA...not a better player yet...though the gap is way smaller than it should be...
So if they can just dump him for nothing that would be great...they already have his replacement on the team AND his contract is enough to almost open up a max...it actually can depending on what the max player they go after service time is...
Realistically though the chances of them trading him are right around 0...the spurs NEVER used to be a player in free agency...and then they landed LMA who regardless of how he is playing now was easily the number 1 free agent that year...and then if you believe the reports the spurs were number 2 on Durants list...and I feel like Paul is going to give them a serous look if blake and/or JJ leaves the Clippers...I feel like that is simply going to come down to Paul stays in LA or he plays for the Spurs if they can get up to a starting salary of 25 million a year...they could even pay him crazy money in years 2 through 4 of a deal when they well have a ton of money...and if you trade LMA all that good will goes down the drain...top free agents will start looking at the team like "if i don't play well after year 2 they going to ship me out of here"
The ONLY way I see him getting traded if he just flat out ask to be traded...and the only way I see him asking to be traded is if he just consistently plays bad and has to spend all summer listening to the media talk about how he no showed in the playoffs and where was he when Kawhi was carrying the team...which is happening right now...cause LMA is pretty weak mentally and I feel like if everyone starts blaming him for however the season ends up he is going to want to bolt...
I think he also has some sort of health issue / injury issue cause he is literally the only player Pop has NOT yelled at since he been here. Came into the season out of shape both years and nothing from Pop. Blows defensive rotations and nothing from Pop. Has games where he doesn't hit the boards and nothing from Pop. Or...maybe Pop just knows from being around him that if you do get in LMA face he will just shut down. Come to think of it I seen Manu get in every player on this team face at least once...except LMA....
maybe I'll go over it in the heat thread
Okay. They still made it to the western confrence finals bretty good all things considered.
