According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the San Antonio Spurs have come to an agreement with free agent Rudy Gay for a two-year, $17.2 million contract. The second year of the Deal is a player option, so essentially it is a one year deal. Gay opted out of his player option this past season where he was set to make $14 million with the Sacramento Kings. Gay wanted to move on from the franchise.
Move is great for both parties
Rudy Gay has averaged 18.4 points and 5.9 rebounds over his 11-year career that dates back to 2006. He can be a player that can get a necessary basket when needed, so it will be fascinating what he can do on a winning team.
Gay has always been a productive player on sub-par teams. Rudy left the Memphis Grizzlies when they started their playoff streak. As a result, Gay hasn't played in the NBA playoffs since he left Memphis in 2012 as the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings failed to make the playoffs while he played on those teams.
Gay will join a team that does not require him to be a number one or two scoring option. He will join a team that already has LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green. For the first time in his career, Gay will be coached by someone that has won an NBA championship.
Rudy Gay is a low-cost signing and is young enough to produce at a high level at just 31 years of age. The San Antonio Spurs challenged the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals this past year, and Gay could produce at even a higher level now that he is on a contending team.
Gay joins Patty Mills as the Spurs other free agent signing this offseason. Mills re-signed with the Spurs for four years and $50 million. The Spurs have locked up $94 million in players in terms of salary and have other decisions to make. San Antonio has free agents Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, and Jonathan Simmons as players that could re-sign, but for less money.
Thunder and Jazz miss out
Rudy Gay had meetings with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz but chose the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs convinced Gay that he could help impact a game alongside Leonard. He also liked the idea of contending in the Western Conference. The Spurs had reportedly been recruiting Gay since free agency began on July 1.
Gay had decided that he wanted to join a winning team this offseason and the Spurs had all the ingredients to sway his decision.
Healing for the start of the season
Rudy Gay has been healing a torn Achilles injury that ended his season. As of now, he is said to be ready by the fall. Gay suffered the injury against the Indiana Pacers on January 18. The plan for Gay is to heal up and play some of his best basketball so that he can possibly decline his player option and make even more money next offseason.
