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What's the rumor?
The San Antonio Spurs fell to a 104-114 home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers last night, and Gregg Popovich's team has now made a 6-12 start to the season. With any hope of making the playoffs quickly fading, the Spurs could look to offload a number of players ahead of the trade deadline, and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald believes the Miami Heat could move for either DeMar DeRozan or LaMarcus Aldridge:
LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, the Heat immediately came to mind, not only because Pat Riley said this week that he’s open to making a move if it’s the right one, but also because Riley has long admired both players and, most importantly, because neither has a contract that extends beyond the key summer of 2021.
In case you didn't know...
DeRozan joined the Spurs last summer as part of the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. While he missed out on All-Star selection for the first time since 2015, DeRozan enjoyed a solid season as he averaged 21.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists over 77 appearances.
Meanwhile, Aldridge joined the Spurs as a free agent back in 2015, and he has been named as an All-Star in three of his four seasons with the team. Despite turning 34 earlier this year, Aldridge remains among the best bigs in the league and is this season averaging 18.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
The heart of the matter
The Spurs have been in a state of decline since Tim Duncan's retirement, and the current roster needs a shakeup. DeRozan and Aldridge are still arguably San Antonio's best performers, although, with both players in their 30s, the Spurs should look to go in a younger direction. Meanwhile, the addition of either player alongside Jimmy Butler in Miami could help consolidate the Heat's excellent start to the season - and a trade appears to be a win for both teams.
What's next?
The Spurs will be hoping to pick up just a second win in eleven games when they face the Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Heat will be looking to continue their excellent form as they face the Rockets.
