7:49pm: The Spurs have officially signed Gay, the team announced in a press release.
7:15pm: The Spurs have reached an agreement with free agent forward Rudy Gay, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, Gay’s new deal with San Antonio will be a two-year contract worth $17MM+ and will feature a second-year player option (Twitter link).
Since striking a deal to bring back point guard Patty Mills shortly after the new league year got underway, the Spurs have been fairly quiet this week as they waited out the first couple waves of free agency. However, Wojnarowski reports (via Twitter) that the team “worked hard” to close a deal with Gay over the last 72 hours.
Gay, who will turn 31 in August, averaged 18.7 PPG and 6.3 RPG in 30 games for the Kings this past season before going down with an Achilles injury. Despite the injury, the veteran forward elected to decline a player option for 2017/18 that would have paid him approximately $14.26MM.
Gay will earn less than that for the Spurs this season, as San Antonio will use its mid-level exception to complete the signing. The mid-level for a non-taxpaying team like the Spurs is worth $8.406MM in 2017/18, and Gay’s two-year total will be $17.232MM. Although he’ll take a pay cut, the UConn alum seemed frustrated with the organization in Sacramento, and is likely thrilled to be joining a championship contender in San Antonio.
Despite committing to Gay, the Spurs retain the flexibility to match an offer sheet for Jonathon Simmons, who is still on the restricted free agent market.
As for Gay’s other suitors, the Jazz were said to have interest, as were the Heat and Thunder. However, Utah has been working to land Jae Crowder from the Celtics, while Oklahoma City used its mid-level exception on Patrick Patterson and Miami used its remaining cap room on Kelly Olynyk.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Interesting
Love this signing
Quality signing, team friendly contract.
Gay off the bench behind Kawhi? That’s going to be very nice.
W/Achilles injury? We’ll see.
Paul Gasol OKC know?
Cavs
The point of signing Gay with the mid level is that they will be able to re-sign Paul with non-bird rights.
If he can come back from his injury, this makes them a lot more athletic and versatile. Obviously, they should retain Simmons, and then look to add a backup big to replace Dedmon
Very interesting signing. He is a really good ball players. Like to see if he can bounce back from that ACL injury if he can this definitely makes the spurs better. They were good like always but they couldn’t match up against the Warriors. Not saying this helps them beat the Warriors but it does close the gap a little if he’s healthy. Wondering if Gasoline is done there now.
Nobody makes the Spurs better, the Spurs themselves make the PLAYER get better
Wasn’t his ACL.
Spurs trying to match up against the Warriors better. If Gay returns to his pre-injury form, the Spurs could throw out a lineup of Mills/Parker, Green, Kawhi, Gay, Aldridge/other big to try and matchup against the Warriors’ crunch time 5.
Spurs starting back court still below average. Team has not improved given all the other western conference moves
Their backcourt doesn’t have any flashy names, but I wouldn’t call their backcourt below average. Plus, it helps when your star player is the best two way player in the league and probably one of the top 5 players in the league overall.
They won 60 games and added gay and lost nobody so far. Kawhi 26, Forbes, Murray, Simmons, mills and bertans all super young. All should be improved. Kawhi is amazing and we haven’t seen him at his best. Gasol should be better year two in the system. Plus off-season is still young. I’m confident in how they run things. Plus guys like you sleep on them every year and every year they are right there.
Spurs were already an elite team last year. If they were healthy they would have been fine.
I assume he passed a physical? Don’t see why you would give a 31 y o that blew out his Achillies 8.5M a year.
Because he is good, the best player they they could have gotten with that exception, fits a need they have, and it is a very cheap contract in the current climate?
Yeah but… if you can’t run you aren’t worth anything. They wouldn’t take the amount of risk there is with that without some kind of confirmation that he’s fit to play.
The Spurs manage injuries better than any team in any sport. I’m confident they’re team doctor knows more than you
I’m confident that I went through it and am the only one that every played collegiate ball that posts on this site. Case study in the NBA is Wesley Matthews, hops and reaction speed isn’t there like magic the next season. It’s a year to 2 year full recovery. You can play on it and tear it again much easier coming back
NO!!!!!!!!!
The Western Conference is too good!!
This is a HUGE steal.
Makes me wonder if GSW could’ve had him for a mid-level deal just to be on a winner.
we’re dedmon go
Paul stayin doe
I’ll tell you what.. GS better not sleep on the spurs. They probably could have taken them had someone not done some interesting things… They’re only getting stronger.
What/who else you think they need?
The Spurs got the deal of the year for 18 pt/game player with the salaries they are giving out now. Was hoping Lakers would have grabbed him but I’m sure he’s looking to win now.
Rudy takes 50% pay cut…word is out on this cancer. We know he won’t be a coach killer in SA! Now where is Aldridge going to be? He says he wants out…not a clutch performer…send back to Blazers!