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Even though NBA media and fans have always considered Pau Gasol a perfect fit the San Antonio Spurs that is no longer the case because the Spurs already have a big man who is a below average defender on the roster in LaMarcus Aldridge. When LaMarcus Aldridge is playing defense, he tends to give minimal effort to the point where on certain plays he would stand near or inside the paint as a perimeter player was driving to the basket and he would go away from him and/or just stand there instead of moving one or two steps over. Which would make the perimeter player stop for a moment to decide whether he wants to go around LaMarcus, take a contested jumper or pass the ball back out to the perimeter to reset the offense. This would give the defense a couple of extra seconds to rotation over in case LaMarcus needs help but since he rarely decides to do this it gives the perimeter player a free path to the basket. Furthermore, there have been many occasions during his career where he has not given maximum effort in defensive rebounding situations because one would assume that he wants to preserve his energy for the offensive end, which gave the opposing team a better chance of getting the rebound.
( LaMarcus going away from the opposing player)
(around the 1:54 and 4:00-minute mark)
(around the 8:00-minute mark)
(LaMarcus not giving maximum effort in defensive rebounding situations)
(around the 50-second mark )
Therefore, it would be ill-advised for the Spurs to even consider signing Pau Gasol while LaMarcus Aldridge is on the roster because Gasol has similar issues to Aldridge on the defensive end of the floor. In fact, throughout his NBA career, Gasol has often put in very little effort on that side of the floor to the point where he would standing near the edge of the paint and the who he is supposed to be guarding is about ten to fifteen away from him. As a result of this, the opposing team decides to pass the ball of the player and Gasol doesn't realize that until the player has started his shooting motion. Furthermore, when Gasol is in pick and roll defense he tends to stay with the perimeter player who asked for the screen for too long which leaves wide open.
(full video)
Due to these reasons the Spurs should forget about signing Gasol because even if Tim Duncan returns for one more year he will on a minutes restriction to keep him relatively fresh for the playoffs which means Gasol and Aldridge would be on the floor together for at least some minutes.
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