Gasol will turn 37 this summer, and if he decides to opt out and return to free agency, potential suitors would have to determine whether his reduced role is simply a result of playing in the Spurs’ system, or if he’s getting to a point in his career where he’s no longer capable of being a full-time, All-Star-caliber starter.
At 52-15, the Spurs have the NBA’s second-best record and look like one of the few teams with a legit chance to win this year’s championship. Depending on how the postseason plays out, Gasol could continue to prioritize that title chase and opt in for another year in San Antonio. But if he’d prefer to join a team that would give him one more chance to play 30+ minutes per game, perhaps he’ll opt out look elsewhere.
The Spurs announced some good news today, confirming in a press release that LaMarcus Aldridge has been medically cleared to resume all basketball-related activities. Aldridge will be available to play for the team tonight against Portland.
Less than a week ago, San Antonio announced that Aldridge would be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a minor heart arrhythmia. However, the Spurs have given him the go-ahead to return to the court after conducting multiple tests and consulting with several medical experts, according to the club.
“We are thankful that LaMarcus will be able to rejoin the team,” Spurs GM R.C. Buford said in a statement. “All of us have been impressed with the professionalism and grace he has shown in dealing with this difficult situation.”
Things were looking a little grim for the Spurs several days ago after Kawhi Leonard had been diagnosed with a concussion and Aldridge was said to be out indefinitely. With Leonard making a quick return and Aldridge set to follow suit, San Antonio now appears poised to make a run for the No. 1 seed in the West. Currently, the Spurs are a half-game behind the Warriors in the standings.
Andre Iguodala has been assessed a $10K fine for making “inappropriate comments” during a postgame interview, the league announced on its official website (link). Iguodala’s comments came after a 103-102 loss to Minnesota on Friday, when the 33-year-old was venting about not participating in a match-up with the Spurs. Steve Kerr had Iguodala’s back, claiming the 13-year vet likes to mess with the media.
“You guys just got Andre’d,” Kerr said to a group of reporters, including Chris Haynes of ESPN. “Andre is one of those guys who likes to stir the pot and has a lot of cryptic messaging at times. [He] jokes around. I didn’t take anything from it. It’s just Andre being Andre.”
Iguodala spoke with the press Monday, expressing regret for the impact of his comments.
“I feel like it’s the wrong time because it puts my team in that situation and coaching staff in that situation,” he told Ethan Strauss of ESPN. “I have a great relationship with Steve Kerr, and he knows that. Steve spoke to you guys about it, you know what I mean. Steve in his words, someone still may not believe him, but he and I are in a great place. We don’t even have to speak about it because he knew that in no way shape or form that I’m talking about him.”
More from around the Pacific…
The Kings will be sticking with their veterans despite a losing record, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes. Coach Dave Joerger isn’t going to “throw away” the team’s remaining games in 2016/17, Jones writes, and will play veterans (Garrett Temple, Arron Afflalo, Anthony Tolliver) alongside young players. “I’m very happy with coach,” Afflalo said. “Throughout all of this, he’s remained very positive and encouraged us to win games. He’s playing to win, he’s doing the best that he can with our roster. I commend him for that. So, from a veteran perspective, you’ve always got to keep hope alive and to to go out there and take it one game at a time.”
New Lakers GM Rob Pelinka plans to conduct individual meetings with his players, Tania Ganguli of the L.A. Times writes. “For Earvin [Magic Johnson], Luke and I, we see our fundamental purpose, not just one that’s all about leadership in terms of the front office, but that’s also one about service,” Pelinka said. “When I say that, we want to make sure that we establish a platform of excellence for the players in that locker room. That’s the heartbeat of the team. I think the message to the guys is we want to serve your needs to help you be great.”
There’s cause for concern in San Antonio these days, Matt Tynan of USA Today writes, citing the Spurs’ recent injury struggles as a major hurdle heading into the playoff gauntlet.
With LaMarcus Aldridge‘s long-term health in doubt now that he’s been diagnosed with heart complications and Kawhi Leonard‘s recent concussion, the Spurs may lack the star power to compete in the West.
Tynan writes that the Spurs did well to claim home-court advantage over the Warriors in their Saturday night contest but even if they hold on to their current seed or better, navigating the postseason without Aldridge and/or Leonard would be difficult.
There’s a difference between Aldridge’s heart condition and most other player injuries, head coach Gregg Popovich tells NBA.com’s Fran Blinebury. “That’s a little scary. But you don’t go there yet,” Popovich said. “He is going to see some people on Monday, and based on what they do and see, we’ll know better what we are really looking at. But we don’t know right now.”
Veteran guard Patty Mills has embraced his role as a representative of his Aboriginal Australian culture, Nick Metallinos of ESPN writes.
Though he’s found himself firmly established in the conversation, some believe Leonard lacks a good enough narrative to land the MVP award. Marilyn Dubinski of SB Nation’s Pounding The Rock blog sets out to change that.
Coach Gregg Popovich said LaMarcus Aldridge will undergo more testing to determine the cause of the minor heart arrhythmia he suffered earlier this week, Tom Osborn of Spurs Nation relays. “They did some tests today and they are going to continue it on Monday. He is going to see some people on Monday and based on what they do and see, we’ll know better what we are really looking at. But we don’t know right now,” Popovich said.
Monty Williams is expected to be one of the “elite candidates” on the NBA coaching market once the season concludes, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports (Twitterlinks). The University of Illinois offered Williams its head coaching gig and was willing to make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NCAA. Williams turned down the offer, as he focuses his attention on making a return to an NBA sideline.
Williams is currently working in the Spurs’ front office. He’s had various roles in the organization over his lifetime, ranging from player to coaching intern.
He was an associate head coach with the Thunder during the 2015/16 campaign. Prior to his time in Oklahoma City, he spent five years as the coach of the Pelicans, where he made the playoffs on two occasions. He owns a 173-221 record as a head coach.
The Spurs will be without forward LaMarcus Aldridge for an indefinite period of time, the team has reported on Twitter. The 31-year-old big man is suffering from a minor heart arrhythmia.
Although serious arrhythmias can be life-threatening, they aren’t necessarily always harmful. The franchise, needless to say, has taken the wise approach to sit Aldridge until further examination can be conducted.
In 58 games with the Spurs so far this season, Aldridge has posted 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
We will provide updates as they come in from the Spurs organization.
Of note is that, per Jeff Stotts of Rotowire, Aldridge suffers from Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and has undergone at least two procedures to address the issue since his rookie campaign in 2006.
In 2007, Casey Holdahl of the Oregonian wrote about Aldridge’s 2006/07 campaign being cut short when the Trail Blazers announced that he would undergo treatment for the congenital condition.
According to a team press release, Kawhi Leonard has entered the NBA’s Concussion Protocol. Per the release: “Leonard, who was hit in the head in last night’s Spurs-Thunder game, will not play in tomorrow night’s Spurs-Warriors contest. The team will provide updates on his return to the court as appropriate.”
Per the league’s official website, Leonard was injured in the second half of Thursday’s game with OKC, when he was struck on the left side of his head by Victor Oladipo. The Spurs are within striking distance of Golden State for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, and Leonard’s absence won’t help them close the gap this weekend.
According to Anthony Slater of Mercury News, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is unsure if he’ll rest any of his starters against the short-handed Spurs (Twitter link).
In addition to Leonard, Tony Parker is questionable for the contest due to back stiffness (Twitter link).
The Spurs have recalled Bryn Forbes from their D-League affiliate, according to the team’s website. In 18 D-League games this season, Forbes is averaging 23.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest.
The Thunder have recalled Josh Huestis from the Oklahoma City Blue, according to the team’s website. The forward is averaging 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in the D-League this season.
In addition to being one of 2017’s most entertaining games – and a potential playoff preview – the matchup between the Rockets and Spurs on Monday night may have represented a turning point in the 2017 NBA MVP race.
For most of the season, James Harden and Russell Westbrook have been viewed as the frontrunners for the award, for good reason. Harden ranks third in the league in scoring and first in assists, while Westbrook is vying to becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over the course of a full season.
On Monday night though, Harden squared off with Kawhi Leonard, who has flown under the radar for much of the 2016/17 campaign. Leonard proved in the Spurs’ dramatic win over Houston that he deserves to be in the discussion with Harden, Westbrook, and the rest of this year’s contenders for MVP. Leonard’s incredible 39-point night – his fourth straight game of 30+ points – was capped by a last-minute sequence that saw him hit a go-ahead three at one end of the court, then block Harden’s layup attempt at the other end.
While the MVP buzz for Leonard is growing, and Harden and Westbrook remain excellent candidates, it’s not just a three-man race. Over in the Eastern Conference, LeBron James is having one of his best seasons for the Cavaliers (No. 1 seed), Isaiah Thomas is averaging nearly 30 points per game for the Celtics (No. 2), and John Wall has established new career highs in PPG (22.6) and APG (10.8) for the Wizards (No. 3).
Even Kevin Durant, who is currently out with a knee injury, deserves a look — he has been more efficient than ever in Golden State, making 53.7% of his shots this season for the Warriors, though his injury will likely take him out of the running.
What do you think? We’ve still got more than a month left in the 2016/17 season, so things could certainly change in the coming weeks. But if the season ended today, who would be your choice for 2017’s NBA MVP? Vote in our poll, and weigh in below in the comments section with your thoughts.