JULY 11: The Spurs’ two-year, guaranteed deal with Bertans is now official, according to his agent Arturs Kalnitis (Twitter link).
JULY 10: According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Bertans’ new deal with the Spurs is for $14.5MM over two seasons.
JULY 9: After declining to match Kyle Anderson‘s offer sheet with the Grizzlies, the Spurs won’t let a second restricted free agent get away. According to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, San Antonio has agreed to terms on a new contract with forward Davis Bertans. While it’s not official yet, the two sides are expected to complete a four-year, $20MM deal, per Carchia.
Bertans, 25, played regular minutes for the Spurs in 2017/18, averaging 5.9 PPG and 2.0 RPG with a .440/.373/.816 shooting line in 77 games (14.1 MPG). A 6’10” power forward, Bertans is capable of guarding frontcourt players on defense and stretching the floor on offense (1.2 threes per game).
Reports over the last week or two linked Bertans to the Jazz, Nets, and Timberwolves. However, Utah elected not to aggressively pursue outside free agents and the Wolves addressed their need for a stretch four by adding Anthony Tolliver. The Nets had cap room available to push the Spurs on Bertans, but appear to be biding their time and considering their options for their remaining space.
San Antonio will increase its team salary to approximately $110MM with Bertans back on the books. The team holds his Early Bird rights, so it can go over the cap to re-sign him without using another exception like the mid-level.
The Spurs entered the offseason with qualifying offers out to three restricted free agents. Although Anderson got away, the team appears poised to re-sign Bertans and is in a good position to retain Bryn Forbes as well.
I guess Utah is just leaving that 4 spot empty…I guess they plan on using Ingles/Crowder at that spot more often this year
Makes sense for the Spurs, although I’m not so sure about the 4th year.
Doesn’t Favors play the 4? They resigned him
For stretches, but he is obviously better at the 5 when Gobert sits or is hurt.
True he is better at the5, but they’re not paying him 2/$35 to sit! Crowder can be used for smaller forwards, Favors bigger.
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Bertans at $5, take 5 yrs! I didn’t know he could guard frontcourt players… maybe just on P&Rs? That’s good enough.
Nevermind, I got frontcourt & backcourt confused.
At the price im happy it’s four years. I don’t see how he won’t keep improving
He was going to be a steal for somebody. Glad he stayed put.
That is a good move, like him more than Anderson & comes cheaper, also I think he has got more potential to keep improving, so all in all a good move for the Spurs.
You should be a scout. His ceiling is Matt Bonner.
Who someone got the original deal way off
Not worth that much. Hell, struggling as to why they resigned him.