The San Antonio Spurs are heading into the All-Star break and trade deadline banged up and that makes players like Jimmer Fredette, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy and Evan Turner prime options to target at the February 20 deadline date for a final Tim Duncan and Tony Parker playoff run and the team could pull the trigger on one of those deals heading into next week.
The Spurs are not usually team that goes after names at the trade deadline, but this year has a confluence of events for the team that could make them act differently than past years. Gregg Popovich knows that after losing in seven games to the Miami Heat in the finals last year took a lot out of his team and with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili getting older, this could be the last chance for the Big 3 to make a legitimate title run and with the number of injuries the team has dealt with this season, the trading deadline could be the perfect way to ensure things stay on track.
CBS Sports reports that the team has inquired about Evan Turner and they see him as an option to add, as he has been playing very well this season and is averaging around 20 points per game along with 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists and the way he has played on defense has been promising as well. The Spurs have lost at various times, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter to injuries and with Gary Neal gone, the bench is not as strong as it once was and that could be a reason they jump into the trade market.
A deal with the Sixers could be tough since they want high draft picks for any of the names they are giving up in Thad Young and Spencer Hawes, but with Turner that could be more difficult. Teams will be unlikely to give up a high pick for a player they could sign as a free agent next year and that fact could bring their price down and open things up for the Spurs. An interesting option is Fredette, as he has been wasting away for years since being drafted and after they did not pick up his option, he will be a free agent and is likely leaving.
Fredette is a very good shooter and he could serve a specific role for the team and the Kings getting anything for him would be worth it, as he has not lived up to the hype in Sac town thus far and a split is likely. The Bulls are an interesting team to watch at the deadline as well, as they have already traded away Luol Deng and names like Taj Gibson and Mike Dunleavy could be fits for the Spurs. ESPN.com reported that the Lakers, Bobcats and Wizards have inquired about Gibson and heading into the deadline, he is a player to keep an eye on.
The Spurs are still one of the top teams in the west if they don't make a deal, but with Ginobili banged up and those big three getting older, some insurance may be in order. The west is much deeper than the east and teams like OKC, Portland and the Clippers will be hard to beat with a banged up roster.