Spurs officially announce two free-agent signings, Lonnie Walker
By Rob Wolkenbrod
The San Antonio Spurs officially welcomed a handful of players that signed or re-signed contracts with the team.
When July 1 arrived, free-agent deals were reported left and right, but nothing could become official until later in the month. The aforementioned date only allows for the legal tampering period, when free agents can speak with other teams. The San Antonio Spurs did this, with the reported deals for Marco Belinelli and Rudy Gay just minutes after Midnight ET.
On Wednesday, the Spurs officially announced a handful of contracts. No terms were disclosed for any of them.
- Lonnie Walker IV signed his rookie scale contract with the Spurs, who selected him at No. 18 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. According to Basketball Insiders, Walker should receive approximately $1.9 million in the first season of his deal.
Lonnie Walker IV has signed his rookie contract with the Spurs!
More: https://t.co/GvRjXakp6b pic.twitter.com/w9kPnJm6KH
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2018
- Davis Bertans officially signed his contract with the Spurs — a reported two-year, $14.5 million deal. He joined the organization in 2016, six years after they traded for his rights in the 2011 NBA Draft.
- Rudy Gay rejoined the roster on a one-year, $10 million deal. He arrived in 2017 free agency, six months removed from a ruptured Achilles.
Rudy Gay is staying in San Antonio!
More: https://t.co/1RGhH2xwBc pic.twitter.com/FYZtNHlZ22
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2018
Bryn Forbes and Marco Belinelli were both not officially announced. 2018 second-round pick Chimezie Metu was not included, either, as the Spurs can keep him in the G League and retain his rights, identical to what happened with Jaron Blossomgame — the team’s 2017 second-round pick — and not have him on the salary cap.
The offseason is far from over, however, as it’s only 11 days in and a handful of noteworthy free agents remain. San Antonio does not have any more cap space, so a new addition would need to fit into the mid-level exception or the veteran’s minimum.
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Of course, there’s also the Kawhi Leonard saga. That remains prevalent, with no end in sight. It’s an event that will eventually eclipse the contracts and send the Silver and Black’s offseason down an interesting, strange path,