The San Antonio Spurs’ streak of 22 consecutive seasons making the playoffs has officially come to an end. It’s been a hell of a run for coach Gregg Popovich, who has shown absolutely no signs of wanting to retire any time soon.
That being said, and considering the winning culture and reputation the Spurs have built throughout the years, it’s fair to assume that they will be quite aggressive in the offseason to try and land the players that better fit their project to go back to their winning ways.
So, let’s address the elephant in the room. LaMarcus Aldrige went from being a star to a very good player. That may not seem like a big difference but if you’re trying to win an NBA Championship out of the Western Conference, you need stars, not just good players.
Aldridge isn’t getting any younger either but his value is still quite high, especially if any team willing to absorb his salary wants to trade him again. And if we take an in-depth look at all teams, the Chicago Bulls would be a possible destination.
Ironically, the Bulls drafted LaMarcus Aldridge but traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. This time, he may finally play in the United Center. But why?
Well, the Bulls finally let coach Jim Boylen go. They’ve put together a promising young core that seems a good player away from being able to make the playoffs, and that might as well by Aldridge. They’d also get Derrick White and finally allow them to trade away Kris Dunn.
The Spurs could get Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr, and a pick in return. Markkanen looks like the prime Spurs’ player. He could blossom into the 20-10 kind of players he showed glimpses of being early on with the Bulls. As for Porter, his 3-and-D expertise could come pretty handily, especially if they get rid of Rudy Gay’s contract.
The Bulls have too many mouths to feed right now. Keeping Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Lauri Markkanen may not be what the doctor ordered, especially considering neither of them is a good defender. Aldridge and White, on the other hand, could end up being perfect complements to go back to the playoffs. This may seem like a long shot but hey, we’ve seen crazier things happen.
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