The Spurs Have a Need...

It's great in all to say how our wings are pretty crappy, which they are.  I mean, yeah, I like the Roger Mason signing, I like the George Hill draft, but tack onto that Michael Finley (please don't take your player option), Bruce Bowen, Ime Udoka, and Jacque Vaughn, it's pretty hurting.  Hill is still a project, Mason, well, Mason is a shooter.  Yes, it'd be nice if we could get a finisher/creator, he doesn't need to create for others, he just needs to do his job, get to the rim and score.  It'd be nice if in this offseason we could get one of Marvin Williams, Josh Childress, Marquis Daniels, or Walter Herrmann (or Ron Artest?), somewhat realistically speaking.  Unrealistically speaking, it'd be nice if we could get Kobe or Hedo to opt out and sign with us, if we could nab Trevor Ariza from the Lakers.  I trust Pop and the front office will deal with that somehow, I really do.  Yes, the Spurs could also use an upgrade at the PF/C to play next to Tim Duncan.  Yes, I would love to sign Rasheed Wallace and make another run, yes, it would be a dream if Mehmet Okur decided to opt out and sign with us, yes, to a lesser extent that Zydrunas Ilgauskas opts out and signs with us.  I think you get the point.  However, here's what I think the Spurs really need:

The Spurs need Tim Duncan to become the David Robinson to the next Tim Duncan.

I think that last sentence might have been kind of confusing.  I had to think about it a couple of times before I was sure I got it right.  No, there will never be another Tim Duncan, no, there will never be another David Robinson.  I'm not expecting some rookie to waltz in and average 24.9 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 3.9 blocks per game (David Robinson, in his rookie year).  I'm also not asking anyone to have career low averages of no less than 18.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game across 12 seasons (Tim Duncan).  For most bigs, either one of those lines would probably signify a career season or close to it. 

It's nice to hope for the Mehmet Okurs and the Rasheed Wallaces in hopes of landing Timmy his 5th ring before he retires, but, also, the Spurs need to look to the future.  Maybe they start building around Tony Parker, maybe they draft some young stud in the wings.  Maybe they somehow land LeBron.  All that aside, I think it's high time Timmy takes someone under his wing.  Will it be Ian Mahinmi?  Maybe Anthony Tolliver?  Maybe finally Tiago Splitter comes to the states?  I don't know.  I'm not resting my hopes on getting the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge or something (Portland probably won't trade him for anything short of Tony Parker).  Al Jefferson I think is another pipe dream.  However, regardless of who it is, what form he takes, Tim Duncan is too good of a player and character to not have mentoring someone the Spurs see in their future.  Spurs have never been a place where it's been a slapdash of stars thrown together via trades, while they pick and choose their role players, the Spurs have always stood fast on the same franchise centerpiece for the duration of his career (see Tim Duncan, David Robinson). 

I don't see the Spurs changing that course of direction now, and quite frankly, I don't think I'd be as big of a fan if they weren't the type of organization for the Tim Duncans and the David Robinsons.  While I'd love to have a Rudy Gay type talent on the roster, I hope that Pop and the front office of the Spurs organization find some way to raise up the future leaders of the team.  Duncan is a future hall-of-famer, he needs to leave his mark in the future.  I'm not going to say David Robinson made Duncan into who he is today, but I'm sure he played a big role in bringing him along.  I'd imagine it helps having one of the greatest players of the previous era guiding your steps.  Robinson made his mark on the Spurs today through that.  The Spurs need to find someone for Duncan to mold and mentor.  They need Duncan to make his mark on the organization, more so than just another banner in the rafters, more so than just having his number 21 jersey retired.  The next guy will have his own flavor, his own style, but still, Timmy is just one resource you can't waste in terms of developing the next young big in the franchise.