The Cleveland Cavaliers are eyeing two of the San Antonio Spurs’ key players -- Lamarcus Aldridge and Danny Green -- via trade. Initially, the Cavs only inquired about Green but later included Aldridge in the talks, according to Sam Amico of Amico Hoops. The Spurs were looking to trade Aldridge before the 2017 NBA Draft for a top 10 pick but there were no takers.
There were speculations that power forward Kevin Love may be included in trade talks but there was no confirmation. The Cavaliers are moving like a headless chicken with the firing of general manager David Griffin.
Earlier, the Cavs were working on a trade for Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls but all negotiations came to a screeching halt after Griffin was not given a contract extension.
The Spurs signed Aldridge to a four-year, $84-million deal in 2015 as replacement for the retiring Tim Duncan. He has two years and almost $44 million left in the contract. Trading Aldridge will give the Spurs an additional $21.46 million in cap space.
Cavs initially inquired about Danny Green
The Cavaliers initially inquired about the availability of Green via trade. It was Cleveland which drafted Green 46th overall in the 2009 Draft. He signed a two-year deal worth $1.21 million with the Cavaliers but he was waived the following year.
He then joined the Spurs where he emerged as an outside threat and a defensive player.
In 2015, the Spurs signed him to a four-year, $40 million deal. Trading Green will give the Spurs $10 million more in salary cap room. Green averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds last season for the Spurs. The Spurs can get more salary cap room when center Pau Gasol and power forward David Lee officially declines their $16 million and $1.6 million option for next season, respectively.
Blazers interested in reunion with Aldridge
According to The Oregonian, the Portland Trail Blazers are interested in a reunion with Aldridge. The newspaper reported that the Trail Blazers may arrange a trade with the Spurs that will reunite Aldridge with star guard Damian Lillard. When Aldridge turned free agent in 2015, he opted to leave the Blazers and sign a contract with the Spurs.
The Spurs are looking to trade Aldridge in the offseason rather than let him exercise his player option in 2018 that will leave them with nothing in return.
Aldridge was originally a second overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2006 but he was traded to the Blazers for Viktor Khryapa and Tyrus Thomas. Aldridge played the first nine years of his career in Portland.
