Not everything in the NBA is related to Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers these days. We've finally seen the end of drama in Cleveland as Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics earlier this week. Now, we can focus on other things and stories around the league. One of the most successful franchises in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs, has been relatively quiet this summer. Even though the Spurs were also mentioned as the possible and probable landing spot for Kyrie Irving, San Antonio wasn't able to get him after all. Probably the biggest move they've made so far is the signing of Rudy Gay.
Gay joined the Spurs as a free-agent earlier this offseason, and San Antonio announced yesterday that another key player from last season will be with the team for at least one more year.
Ginobili looking to retire as a Spur
Shams Charania of The Vertical reported on Thursday night that Manu Ginobili and the San Antonio Spurs have agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal. According to Charania, the deal will be fully guaranteed as the 40-year-old Ginobili looks to end his career with the Spurs. After his previous one-year deal with the Spurs had expired, many thought that Ginobili would retire this summer. But it seems the Spurs think he still has a lot to offer to their team, but we do not expect Ginobili to see meaningful playing time next season.
Manu Ginobili has signed a two-year, $5 million deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 24. kolovoza 2017.
The 2017/2018 season will be the 16th of Ginobili's NBA career and he will become the eighth player in NBA history to spend his entire career with one team and play at least 16 seasons.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Argentina was drafted by the Spurs in 1999 and since then he has accomplished a lot with San Antonio. He is a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist and a Euroleague MVP. Ginobili played 69 games for the Spurs last season and averaged a career-low 7.5 points per game, but also added 2.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
He also shot a career-low 39 percent from the field and played a career-low 18.7 minutes per game.
Payne headed to Orlando
The Orlando Magic have reportedly signed Adreian Payne to a two-way contract. This means that Payne will likely spend most of the upcoming season playing for the Magic’s G League affiliate in Lakeland. The 26-year-old power forward became a free-agent this summer, after playing 18 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. Payne was the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, drafted by the Atlanta Hawks. The 6-foot-10 Payne played an average of 7.5 minutes per game last season with the Timberwolves and averaged 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
