Spurs look to trade McDyess, eye Thomas

The San Antonio Spurs are trying to unload Antonio McDyess(notes) and the remaining $7.5 million owed him after this season to possibly clear a way to make a trade for Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas(notes), league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Spurs have been searching for expiring deals to move McDyess, who will make $4.9 million next season and is guaranteed about $2.6 million in 2011-12. Trading McDyess would free minutes and give them greater flexibility to re-sign Thomas this summer if they want. Thomas would give the Spurs a younger, more athletic complement to Tim Duncan(notes), and could be part of a future frontline with former first-round pick Tiago Splitter(notes) and rookie DeJuan Blair(notes).

The Spurs are shopping Roger Mason(notes), who is in the final season of his contract, with the help of Mason’s agent. In addition to Mason, they have a number of other expiring contracts – Michael Finley(notes), Matt Bonner(notes), Ian Mahinmi(notes) among them – to possibly offer the Bulls.

The Denver Nuggets could be a match for McDyess, who played six seasons there. Nevertheless, it’s less likely the Spurs would want to do that deal with another Western Conference contender. The Bulls have been shopping Thomas, and are trying to get expiring contracts and a good first-round pick for him.

New York still has interest in a deal for Thomas that would include Al Harrington(notes), but doesn’t have a 2010 first-round pick to give them. And one of the Knicks future first-round picks could be on its way to Houston in the deal they’re discussing for Tracy McGrady(notes) and his expiring contract.

The Spurs are 30-21 and are tied for fifth place in the Western Conference. They traded for Richard Jefferson(notes), who they also have tried to trade, and signed McDyess last summer to increase their payroll to about $80 million in hopes of chasing their fifth championship.