Forward Rudy Gay has declined his player option with the San Antonio Spurs, worth $8.8 million, to become a free agent, reports Chris Haynes of ESPN:
San Antonio forward Rudy Gay is declining his player option to become a free agent this summer, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 18, 2018
At 32 years of age, Gay is no longer the young, exciting athlete he once was, but can still be a useful contributor to a good team. He signed with the Spurs last summer and was a solid player for them, but struggled with injuries.
Gay appeared in 56 games for the Spurs, including six starts. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game. He shot 47.1 percent from the field, his best mark since 2010-11, but struggled to connect from deep, making just 31.4 percent of his 3-point tries – his lowest percentage since 2011-12.
Assuming his price is fairly low, Gay should be a coveted prize in free agency among contending teams. He’s a natural bucket-getter who would be excellent in a spark-off-the-bench sort of role.
In today’s NBA, Gay’s biggest asset may be his size. At 6 feet 8 inches with a tremendous 7-foot-3 wingspan, Gay is the sort of wing that teams crave: one who can play multiple positions. He’s never been known for his defensive prowess, but the physical tools are there to enable him to at least hold his own on that end.
