Spur for life: Tim Duncan contract negotiation update

Jun 06, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) and point guard Tony Parker (9) chat during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game six of the Western Conference finals of the 2012 NBA playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Oklahoma City won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

Tim Duncan, 36, has been in the league awhile. He’s accomplished everything, experienced everything, his legs withstanding the test of time. Duncan could retire tomorrow and his lasting legacy wouldn’t be tarnished. But the taste of defeat resonates and thus, Duncan will make another attempt to win his fifth title.

Duncan has earned $204.7 million in his career according to Basketball Reference (not including endorsements). Chances are that the monetary value of Duncan’s final contract will not be the sole driving force behind the deal. Marc Stein noted on Twitter that Duncan and Spurs would come to an agreement once San Antonio surveys the open market.

Spurs’ fluid plan w/Spur For Life Tim Duncan: I’m told they’ll pound out deal specifics & then finalize when     timing meshes best w/other biz

Duncan’s final contract will likely be a two-year deal worth upwards of $20-30 million (AAV: $10-15 million). That would increase the Spurs’ financial expenditures to at least $57 million this season. There has also been unofficial rumblings of Duncan signing a three-year deal with the final year only partially guaranteed.

If Duncan does indeed take a pay cut, that would allow the Spurs to use their full Mid-Level Exception on Boris Diaw and still retain restricted free agent Danny Green. The Spurs hold Early Bird rights to Green meaning that they can resign Green to 104.5% of his previous salary. For this years purposes, that represents about $3.3 million.

It’s quite possible that the remnants of Duncan’s deal could end up putting the Spurs over the top.