San Antonio Spurs: Brandon Paul waived ahead of Aug. 1 guarantee

The San Antonio Spurs waived Brandon Paul before his contract became guaranteed for the 2018-19 season.

The San Antonio Spurs traded Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, watched Kyle Anderson and Tony Parker leave and acquired DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and others in various ways. Though, once the dust settled, the Silver and Black still had a decision to make on Brandon Paul‘s contract for the 2018-19 season.

If Paul was on the roster by Aug. 1, 2018, his $1.37 million contract would count against the salary cap for the season.

On Tuesday, one day before the contract would guarantee, the Spurs waived Paul from their roster, according to the official announcement. This closed a one-year tenure that started in the 2017 offseason, with a two-year deal signed out of the Summer League.

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— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 31, 2018

Paul appeared in 64 games for the Spurs in 2017-18, averaging 2.3 points and 1.1 rebounds. It was the Illinois product’s rookie season and four years after he went undrafted.

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Paul found some footing in the rotation in the season’s first month, including a standout 18-point performance in October 2017. Though, once injuries at guard cleared up, as well as the presence of Bryn Forbes, the former international standout never found a consistent spot in coach Gregg Popovich’s lineup for the rest of the season.

If Paul stayed, the situation might have remained the same. With the acquisitions of DeRozan, Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV, any open space at shooting guard closed, as well either possess the talent, contract or potential to usurp any standing that Paul had. So, a spot as the 14th or 15th man would potentially be the case.

Now, after a calendar year in the Alamo City, Paul will look to latch on elsewhere. A two-way contract or training camp invite with another team remains possible, as teams have two months before the preseason starts. If not there, he should be able to land somewhere in professional basketball.