2017 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Pau Gasol: 3 years, $48 million (San Antonio Spurs)
Free agent Pau Gasol has agreed on a three-year deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 21, 2017
Sources: Free agent Pau Gasol's deal to return to Spurs: three years, $48M with a partial guarantee on final year, https://t.co/LRm3ph27HZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 24, 2017
Pau Gasol opting out of the remaining $16.2 million on his contract allowed the San Antonio Spurs to create some salary cap flexibility at the time, and the six-time All-Star was rewarded for it with a three-year deal worth essentially the same amount (with the third being partially guaranteed).
After being unable to put that extra space to good use and losing Jonathon Simmons, this deal doesn’t create much reason for excitement. Gasol taking a discount was great, but the Spurs weren’t able to do much with that extra space aside from sign Rudy Gay, Joffrey Lauvergne and Brandon Paul — hardly difference-makers in the wars to come with the Golden State Warriors.
At age 37, Gasol will be paid through at least his age-39 season, and his game has already diminished to a sixth man role, averaging 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last year. The Spurs were thin up front, and signing Gasol keeps a perennial 55- or 60-win team intact, but San Antonio’s summer didn’t help them bridge the gap on the Dubs.
Bourguet Grade: B-
HoopsHabit Grade: B+