2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Rudy Gay: 2 years, $32 million (San Antonio Spurs)
Free agent Rudy Gay plans to sign a two-year, $32M deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2019
With two quick moves in free agency, the San Antonio Spurs addressed their wing depth. The first move was bringing back Rudy Gay on a short-term deal. While $16 million a season for the soon-to-be 33-year-old isn’t quite in “team-friendly” territory, the length of the deal makes it a solid maneuver.
Last year, Gay posted 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on efficient .504/.402/.816 shooting splits. He missed 13 games, but his ability to play either the 3 or the 4 is useful on this Spurs team that wants to remain competitive despite eyeing its ceiling directly overhead.
The Spurs weren’t expected to be major players in free agency, and this move set the tone accordingly. That doesn’t make it a bad extension, but it’s also a transaction that’s very much on the margins compared to the rest of the NBA’s flurry of activity Sunday evening.
Grade: C+