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Spurs Rumors: Kevin Pangos, Aaron White drawing NBA interest

By Rob Wolkenbrod

KAUNAS, LITHUANIA - APRIL 24: Kevin Pangos, #3 of Zalgiris Kaunas competes with Brian Roberts, #22 of Olympiacos Piraeus in action during the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Play Offs Game 3 between Zalgiris Kaunas v Olympiacos Piraeus at Zalgirio Arena on April 24, 2018 in Kaunas, Lithuania. (Photo by Alius Koroliovas/EB via Getty Images)
KAUNAS, LITHUANIA - APRIL 24: Kevin Pangos, #3 of Zalgiris Kaunas competes with Brian Roberts, #22 of Olympiacos Piraeus in action during the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Play Offs Game 3 between Zalgiris Kaunas v Olympiacos Piraeus at Zalgirio Arena on April 24, 2018 in Kaunas, Lithuania. (Photo by Alius Koroliovas/EB via Getty Images) /
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Kevin Pangos and Aaron White have reportedly drawn NBA interest. Could the San Antonio Spurs be among them?

The San Antonio Spurs will enter the offseason with potentially seven departures in free agency, including Tony Parker, Danny Green and Rudy Gay. Players will obviously need to replace them, but who?

In the past, the Spurs have resorted to low-cost options to fill their roster. In 2017, it was Joffrey Lauvergne and Brandon Paul. Bryn Forbes, Kyle Anderson and Davis Bertans also played on minimal contracts in their final seasons before restricted free agency, but all of them could get a raise this summer.

If San Antonio eyes players that won’t open the bank and can fill out their roster, receive a Summer League look or sign a two-way deal, two new options could come to the forefront: Aaron White and Kevin Pangos. Both players have drawn NBA interest, according to Donatas Urbonas (h/t Hoops Rumors), a basketball journalist from Lithuania. Pangos and White both played professional basketball in the aforementioned country.

Kevin Pangos has an interest from NBA teams, I was told. If he won't get NBA deal, he might end up with a big contract in Europe close to 1M. Few weeks ago Pangos told me that he wasn't sure about playing in Vegas Summer League this year.

— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) May 23, 2018

49th pick of NBA Draft 2015 Aaron White has a strong interest from NBA too, I was told. He has a deal with Zalgiris for the next season, with NBA out clause only (buyout).

— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) May 23, 2018

Given the absence of NBA experience from Pangos and White, it seems more likely for them to receive a Summer League spot before any team offers a contract.

Pangos was a standout at Gonzaga, playing four collegiate seasons for them. Since then, he has spent time in the EuroLeague, including a breakout campaign in 2017-18 (48.3 percent shooting, 47.5 3-point shooting, 12.7 points and 5.9 assists per game). Albeit at 6′ 2”, teams may see the perimeter shooting as enough value to warrant a tryout as an NBA point guard.

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However, if Barcelona offers Pangos a deal to stay in the EuroLeague, then it’s possible he does not sniff an NBA opportunity. It’s the same basketball club that signed Spurs draftee Adam Hanga in 2017, after rumors of his potential NBA arrival.

White was selected No. 49 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. While he never played professionally for the Wizards, they still own his rights.

With Zalgiris Kaunas — who White has an NBA opt-out clause with — in the 2017-18 campaign, he hit 38.5 percent of his shots from 3-point range and averaged 8.9 points. He stands at 6′ 9”, so teams may view the Iowa product as a stretch four off the bench.

Do the Spurs make sense for either player? Pangos could find a depth role at point guard, but the lack of big-man depth could trend in White’s favor, especially a stretch four role since Bertans might leave in free agency. However, there’s no indication the Silver and Black have interest in either of these rumored players.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: After the lottery

Should the Spurs give Pangos or White a chance in the Summer League? Can either of them make it in the NBA?

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