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The San Antonio Spurs’ Free Agency Options: The Unorthodox Edition

By Tiffany Davis

Mar 23, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) and Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) talk during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) and Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) talk during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) blocks the shot by Miami Heat forward Amar’e Stoudemire (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) blocks the shot by Miami Heat forward Amar’e Stoudemire (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Pau Gasol, Forward/Center

Again, I know the Spurs should be getting younger, but bear with me.

Pau Gasol is yet another veteran who, despite his age, can still get it in. He was most effective under the Tom Thibodeau regime with the Chicago Bulls, and won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant, and under Phil Jackson. The recent season in the Windy City — which included poor utilization under new head coach Fred Hoiberg — signals that his time there is fast coming to an end.

Gasol is no joke around the rim (something the Spurs need, especially if a certain former first-round draft pick and five-time NBA champion decides to retire). This past season, he averaged 31.8 minutes, 16.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and two blocks per game, and shot 79 percent from the free-throw line. Not bad for an old man (in basketball years).

Gasol, a former medical student who is into the arts — especially opera — would find no shortage of extracurricular activities in the San Antonio/Austin metropolitan area. As a native Spanish speaker (albeit Castilian Spanish), Gasol would have no problems adjusting to the predominate Hispanic/Latinx population of San Antonio, Plus, his younger brother Marc Gasol (“Big Spain”), the cornerstone of the Grizzlies, has been consistent in his belief that “Smaller Spain” should sign with the Spurs.

Big brother seems to agree.

With that kind of endorsement, the Spurs might want to crunch some numbers and see what they can do.

Next: The Problem Child

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