It's not so much who the San Antonio Spurs want as it is who they think wants the Spurs.
CBS Sports is reporting that league sources believe the 2014 NBA champions will target free agent LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers.
"The Spurs will feel out Memphis center Marc Gasol, too, but the prevailing belief now is that Aldridge is more likely to change teams," CBS Sports reported. "The Trail Blazers' hope is that the Texas native will be enticed by the five-year, $107 million deal they can offer as opposed to the four-year, $82 million that other suitors will have on the table."
The Spurs are still waiting to find out whether their two own veteran stars - 39-year-old Tim Duncan and 37-year-old Manu Ginobili - will return to the team in 2015-16 or retire.
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"As of Tuesday, the Spurs have not received any indication one way or the other about whether Duncan or Ginobili will be back," CBS Sports reported. "The prevailing wisdom among those in close contact with the organization is the same as it was the night the Spurs lost in Game 7 to the Clippers: Duncan likely will be back for one more hurrah, and Ginobili is leaning toward retirement."
The Spurs' offseason plan is said to be to give Kawhi Leonard a max contract and then have him join forces with Duncan to lure Aldridge, a Houston native, to San Antonio.
The Memphis Grizzlies have expressed concern that Gasol has not yet indicated that he intends to remain with the team and could be intrigued by the Spurs' pedigree.
Another aspect that should help the Spurs' pursuit of either free agent is the impending salary cap spike in 2016, according to CBS Sports.
The Trail Blazers, for example, can offer Aldridge a five-year, $107 million deal, as opposed to all other teams, who are allowed to counter with a four-year, $82 million contract. But another bidder could offer Aldridge a two-year deal with a play option for the second year, which would allow him to go back into the market for more money at the new maximum.
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