Report: Spurs, LaMarcus Aldridge agree to contract extension

Hours after the first report of the San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge discussing a contract extension, they agreed to one.

Earlier Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge were discussing a contract extension. Aldridge has two years left on his deal, including the 2017-18 season. However, his $22 million salary for 2018-19 only stays if he opts into his contract for the fourth year.

Well, the situation has been solved. According to Wojnarowski, the Spurs and Aldridge agreed to a contract extension. The deal is three years, $72.3 million. It starts with the 2018-19 season, as he’ll opt into his $22 million salary for next season. He’s signed through 2020-21, when he’ll be 36-years-old.

There is one difference with Aldridge’s deal: the third season is partially guaranteed.

Spurs' LaMarcus Aldridge has reached agreement on a three-year, $72.3M contract extension, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 16, 2017

Deal includes partial guarantee in third-year, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 16, 2017

Aldridge extension starts in 2019-'20. He will opt into his $22.3M for 2018-'19 season and will be signed through the 2020-'21 season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 16, 2017

This contract is reminiscent of what Pau Gasol signed in the summer. He received a three-year deal, with the third season partially guaranteed.

Aldridge is officially off the free-agent market for the next two seasons. It removes any doubt of his player option being in play for not just July 2018 but the rest of his contract. That plays into San Antonio’s favor, as they control his future, especially in the final year of this fresh agreement.

If the Texas product didn’t agree to an extension, his future would have been lumped with other potential Spurs free agents. Danny Green, Rudy Gay and Joffrey Lauvergne have player options for the summer of 2018, while Tony Parker’s contract expires at season’s end. So, it removes at least one potential offseason headache, with the most statistically productive player of the group sticking around.

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Aldridge will continue to play the No. 2 role to Kawhi Leonard, who remains out with a quad injury. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds through two seasons in San Antonio. His career numbers are 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.