2017 NBA free agency grades: Rudy Gay to sign with Spurs
Rudy Gay has agreed to a two-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He will provide scoring ability and veteran experience.
According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, free agent forward Rudy Gay has agreed to sign with the San Antonio Spurs. The deal is reportedly worth slightly more than $17 million over two years.
Throughout his career, Gay has proven to be a consistent and reliable scoring threat. Regardless of what the Spurs eventually decide to do with LaMarcus Aldridge, he gives them another scoring threat on the floor.
As a rookie, Rudy Gay was able to average 10.8 points a game for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has scored at least 17 points a game every year since then. While Gay is capable of having huge outings, his career-high of 21.1 points a game suggests that he is very consistent scorer, although perhaps not prolific.
Over the course of his career, Rudy Gay has learned to draw more fouls and has improved his free throw shooting. In fact, in 2015 when he averaged a career-high in points, he also had a career-high in free throw attempts and percentage. Being able to consistently get to the free throw line and capitalize on those attempts can make the difference between wins and losses throughout the season.
Rudy Gay possesses a solid midrange jumper and three-point stroke. The modern NBA is focusing on three-pointers and layups, and his game is suited to adapt and survive. While he is a tremendous isolation player, Gay will not be asked to carry the offensive load that he is accustomed to bearing. Playing alongside Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge will result in more open shots and less work offensively.
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One area that coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs would like to see Rudy Gay improve is his assist-to-turnover ratio. For his career, Gay averages slightly more turnovers a game (2.4) than assists (2.3). Playing on a better team should help but there is clearly a pattern present that he must reverse.
On the defensive side of the ball, Gay has exceptional length at the forward position. He is then able to shorten the floor and passing lanes for opponents. Previously, he would often be tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player. Now with Kawhi Leonard filling that role, Gay will no longer have to labor as hard on the defensive end. This will free him up to use his length to chase after blocks and steals while boosting his rebounding numbers.
Unfortunately, Rudy Gay does come with a significant risk of injury. He is currently progressing through treatment for a ruptured Achilles tendon. He has also suffered through knee and back injuries at various points in his career. Undoubtedly the list of injuries and his age resulted in contract offers that are not quite indicative of Gay’s potential contributions when healthy.
In the end, the San Antonio Spurs were able to sign a low maintenance veteran to a short-term, salary cap friendly contract. Rudy Gay is capable of playing both forward positions and scoring in a variety of ways. His health will be the determining factor in the success of this transaction.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
The Spurs seemed ready for a battle with the Golden State Warriors before Kawhi Leonard went down with injury. He may not be the biggest free agent acquisition this summer, but a healthy Rudy Gay could prove valuable in the playoffs.
Grade: B+