will Spurs have to eventually tank for Duncan replacement?

[IMHO]

Spurs organization obviously does an amazing job finding excellent role players, and even all stars to put around the superstar, but it's obviously rather difficult to imagine modern day Spurs without a superstar level big man.

This guy almost certainly won't come as a free agent, nor trade.

[co_laper]

I think the Spurs will try to win as long as they can even after Tim Duncan retires. Personally, I think we'd become one of those teams that just become stuck at being average. A low seeded playoff team. And then after a few years of that, anything is possible. Hopefully we get lucky and someone actually develops into a star quality player. If not, then yeah probably Spurs blow the whole thing up and start from scratch.

But I just don't think the Spurs totally blow it all up and start from scratch the minute Duncan retires.

And I do think Splitter is Duncan's replacement.

[mitrandil20]

What about Pop's replacement?

[pickIBL]

The Spurs have always adapted to change and player retirement so well for so long. Duncan will be a big loss... but when he finally ages and retires how big of a loss will it be and how well will the franchise transition. Even if they keep Splitter I have a hard to seeing him being the lead big on a contending team... as much as I happen to like him as a player.

[co_laper]

If the expectations was to remain a title contending team, then I think it's safe to say that Duncan's retirement will put an end to that.

Without Duncan, we're severely weak on the defensive end. Mainly rim protection and rebounding with the roster currently as it is. Although, when Duncan retires, Shotblocking and rebounding will likely be the priority as they search for Tiago's frontcourt partner. But a guy like that is hard to find. We can probably find a rebounder or a shotblocker, but to find one who can do both and do it at a high level is basically finding a Ben Wallace.

Right now, I think the guy most crucial to our hopes is Tony Parker because we need his slashing/rim attacking ways for this offense to be successful. Him and Manu are basically our only two playmakers and Manu likes to launch 3 pointers nowadays instead of attacking the rim. Tony attacks the rim ALL THE TIME.

[Air Poohdini]

Have you ever thought about adding Dwight Howard?

[co_laper]

Have you ever thought about adding Dwight Howard?

Yes, but there's nothing that make sense out there.

Last year when Dwight's with Orlando? No package looking good enough and realistic enough for Orlando.

Midseason trade? No way Lakers do it.

This summer Free Agency? Don't have the money unless we say F you Manu.

Not to mention that him coming here present all of the same problems he's having with LA.

Be the number 1 scorer? Nope. Get loads of touches on the post? We have the league's best offense that consist of loads of pick and roll. Even if we give Dwight all of the touches in the post, it still won't be enough. And then we're a small market team. Dwight wants to go to Big market right?

I mean, nothing realistic has ever linked Dwight to San Antonio. And with all the drama going on the last 2 years, I seriously doubt Spurs are going to go after him this summer.

But on NBA 2k Association Mode, I'll ditch Manu to get Dwight.

[EzeDoesIt]

I'm not worried about the Spurs if I'm a SA fan. They'll probably have some rough years ahead of them after Duncan/TP/Manu retire, but you have to have faith in the FO in terms of drafting, staff-hiring, etc. They're among the best in the league.

To answer the topic question: yes, they'll probably have to tank somewhere down the line, but I'd be surprised if they get stuck in tanking/treadmilling hell like some of the poorly-run organizations (i.e. Toronto, Sacramento, Milwaukee , etc.).

[PaulieWalnuts]

I wouldn't start to worry about tanking until the moment Pop retires..

for that is a moment i dread.

The spurs will be fine as long as this man is leading the charge on the court. We see what he can get from 2nd and 3rd string players that other teams discard.
Hell, we saw their 2nd and 3rd string just BARELY lose in miami earlier this season; and that was playing against home-cooked officiating. The spurs coaching staff truly knows how to maximize a players positive potential.

Duncan hasn't even been playing a signicant amount of minutes and they're still dominating...