Tony Parker thinks the Spurs will be competitive post-Tim Duncan
After the San Antonio Spurs won their seventh straight game 111-89 against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Tony Parker was asked about the potential of the Spurs’ rebuilding process when Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retire, and even how their approach might compare to how the Celtics are doing it.
From Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News:
“I can’t talk for other teams, but the Spurs have always been very loyal to their guys. You see George Gervin, David Robinson, Sean Elliott.”
“Even though one day I’ll be without Timmy and Manu and Pop,” Parker said, “we’re still going to try to compete and bring in good players and try to be a franchise that wins games . . . I trust the Spurs. I trust R.C. (Buford) and Peter (Holt), that we will still have a competitive team.”
A huge part of the Spurs’ immediate future plans now revolve around Kawhi Leonard. Gregg Popovich has been adamant about that. Leonard’s 2013 Finals MVP put him in a favorable and respectable standing that just seems to fit naturally with how the Spurs do things.
It’s still a load to have to replace someone like Tim Duncan. Kawhi might give the Spurs something they haven’t had in an individual wing talent in some time, but the steady hand of Tim Duncan in all facets of the game is nowhere near easily replaced. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol has been linked to the Spurs radar as a free agent next summer, which would in fact be ideal.
This team has evolved and ascended several times under Popovich. Watching them do anything without Tim Duncan is still pretty hard to imagine at this point, but that time is coming.
