New reports surfaced claiming that Pau Gasol signed a three-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs. The three-year deal reportedly came after he opted out of his final year contract with the Spurs last June.
According to a report from CBS Sports on July 21, 2017, Gasol was offered $16.2 million for his final year in his two-year contract with the Spurs, but he declined that. He had to turn down the offer because he reportedly wanted to play for more years with the San Antonio Spurs. The contract details of the 37-year-old free agent remain unknown, but Sports Illustrated said that his final year in the three-year deal is not yet guaranteed.
It is unclear what the conditions are.
Gasol productive with Spurs
During Gasol’s first year with the Spurs, he averaged 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He was an offensive player in the past, but he has now developed his defensive skills. He made 56 out of the 104 attempts from the three-point line last season making him a valuable asset for the San Antonio Spurs.
However, his game time with Spurs will remain at around 25 minutes per game due to his health and age. Apparently, the team wants to keep Gasol healthy for the remainder of his contract. During the 2016-2017 NBA season, he suffered an injury after the fourth metacarpal on his left hand was fractured. The six-time All-Star will start his 17th NBA season this year.
He will be turning 40 after his contract ends with the NBA team. He will play alongside Manu Ginobili, who has been thinking about retirement. This will be the 16th season of Ginobili with the Spurs.
Busy offseason for Spurs
After Gasol had declined to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs for the final year of his contract worth $16.2 million, ESPN reported on July 21 that the cap space situation resulted in the team acquiring free agents Brandon Paul, Joffrey Lauvergne, and Rudy Gay.
They also extended the contract of Patty Mills.
San Antonio Spurs have not yet revealed how much are they paying Gasol for the three-year deal.
Kyrie Irving coming to Spurs?
San Antonio Express News also reported on July 21 that Kyrie Irving is looking for another team he can play for and Spurs’ name came up through league sources.
The NBA team needs a point guard now since 35-year-old Tony Parker is still recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon. Irving averaged 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game last season.
Irving reportedly wants out of the Cleveland Cavaliers because he wants to be the focus of the team. He allegedly said that he does not want to play alongside LeBron James forever.
