The San Antonio Spurs will be playing next season without international prospect Adam Hanga, the touted heir-apparent of Manu Ginobili, after he signed a three-year, $8.5 million offer sheet with Spanish team FC Barcelona. The Spurs were expected to bring in Hanga, their 2011 second round draft pick, after seeing him develop with his former club Saski Baskonia in the Euroleague. Hanga, for his part, expressed his intention to join the NBA in the coming season, saying he’s ready for the challenge.
However, that dream will have to wait until 2020 after he signed the offer sheet.
Hanga’s former team, Baskonia, has five days to match the offer. It is unclear if Hanga’s deal will have an opt-out clause that will allow him to join the NBA anytime. If not, he will be 31 when his contract expires.
Hanga is scheduled to earn $2.8 million from his new deal while the Spurs can only offer him $815,000 if Ginobili and Jonathon Simmons return to the team. Aside from a reduced salary, Hanga’s playing time with the Spurs is expected to decrease with the addition of Rudy Gay, who signed a two-year, $17 million deal with San Antonio.
Hanga outstanding defensive player in Euroleague
Hanga was known for his defense in the Euroleague, winning the Defensive Player of the Year after recording 1.3 steals and a total of 22 blocked shots last season.
However, Hanga can also score, especially from beyond the arc where he made 38 percent of his attempts. Last season, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.4 rebounds for Baskonia.
Ginobili still undecided on return
Hanga was touted as an heir-apparent to Ginobili, who is sill undecided in his next career move. Earlier, it was reported that Ginobili asked for three to four weeks to decide whether he will continue playing or hang up his jersey for good.
In an interview with NBA TV, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford that the team has yet to hear from Ginobili and they are not aware of his future plans at the moment. “Hopefully he’ll come off the beach one day and let us know,” said Buford. Ginobili, who bagged four NBA titles with the Spurs, showed a decline in his play last season, averaging just 7.5 points in 18.7 minutes per game.
The San Antonio Spurs are also hoping to keep Simmons but he can command a higher salary via offer sheets from other teams.The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in his services. Simmons was a key reserve for the Spurs but stepped up in the playoffs when Kawhi Leonard went down with an ankle injury.
