Can the Grizzlies Compete in the Southwest Division?

Apr 22, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs simply never “go away.” They are always a lock to qualify for the postseason.

San Antonio surprisingly traded away a solid contributing center–Tiago Splitter–around the time the 2015 NBA Draft was set to occur. To make the situation crazier, he was dealt in a salary-dump deal.

Why?

The Spurs were planning to chase LaMarcus Aldridge heavily in Free-Agency.

Being as the club knew they had virtually zero chance of persuading the Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol to leave the 901, they immediately targeted Aldridge. Along with some luck plus a championship pedigree,

LaMarcus ultimately signed a new deal with the Spurs, ending his tenure in Portland.

No Splitter? No problem. Tim Duncan is back for another season and so is Manu Ginobili. Tony Parker is still playing at a high level, too, not to mention that the team retained Danny Green and also have an elite guy named Kawhi Leonard on the roster.

This may very well be the Spurs’ best roster–on paper–of this particular decade.

Aldridge has a slew of dominant years remaining in his playing career and what better way for him to try to reach new heights than to sign on with a winning franchise with a future Hall-of-Famer (Duncan) at the same position (power forward) as Aldridge? All eyes will be on San Antonio when October rolls around.

It will be very interesting and entertaining to see “L-Train” go head-to-head against “Big Spain” within the same division of the Western Conference.

Next: Can the Grizzlies keep pace in Memphis?