Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Complete 2018 NBA Free Agency primer for OKC Thunder and all 30 teams

By Tamberlyn Richardson

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23, Kevin Durant #35 and Paul George #13 of Team LeBron give each other high fives against Team Curry during the NBA All-Star Game as a part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23, Kevin Durant #35 and Paul George #13 of Team LeBron give each other high fives against Team Curry during the NBA All-Star Game as a part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder - NBA Free Agency
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

San Antonio Spurs:  

Free Agents:

Team Profile and Ranking:

Key Ranking Stats to end season:

  • Offense: 17th (105.7)
  • Defense: 4th (102.3)
  • Net: 7th (plus +3.4)

NBA Power Ranking at 2017-18 season end: 12th

ESPN Power Ranking post playoffs: 6th

Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26: 18 to 1

Committed Salary: $90,645,328.00 as of June 29th

Average attendance: 18,403

Attendance rank: 12th

Arena: AT&T Center

Management:

  • General Manager: R.C Buford – 2002
  • Head Coach: Gregg Popovich – 1996

Salary Profile:

The Spurs issued qualifying offers to four players: Kyle Anderson, Bryn Forbes, Darrun Hillard, and Davis Bertans. This keeps them all restricted free agents and allows the Spurs to match any offers fro other squads.  Joffrey Lauvergne hasn’t officially opted out, but rumors are that is his intention. Of the remaining roster players, Brandon Paul is on a non-guaranteed contract ($1,378,242).

Payroll Table
Sala
Player Age 2018-19 Signed Using Guaranteed
LaMarcus Aldridge 32 $22,347,015 Cap Space $76,808,025
Kawhi Leonard 27 $20,099,189 Bird Rights $38,967,814
Pau Gasol 37 $16,000,000 $38,700,000
Patty Mills 29 $11,571,429 Bird Rights $48,000,000
Danny Green 31 $10,000,000 Bird Rights $20,000,000
Manu Ginobili 40 $2,500,000 $5,000,000
Joffrey Lauvergne 26 $1,656,092 $1,524,305
Derrick White 23 $1,667,160 1st Round Pick $3,071,760
Dejounte Murray 21 $1,544,951 1st Round pick $2,857,562
Brandon Paul 27 $1,378,242 Minimum Salary $815,615
Tim Duncan 42 $1,881,250 $3,762,500
Team Totals $90,645,328 $269,278,833

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/29/2018.

Draft 2018:

Round 1:

With the 18th pick, the Spurs selected Miami guard Lonnie Walker

Rookie Profile:  Lonnie Walker IV: Energetic prospect draws Corey Brewer comparison

Round 2:

With the 49th pick, the Spurs selected USC forward/center Chimezie Metu

Rookie Profile:  Chimezie Metu -raw skillset could project into 2-way capabilities

Free Agency – Offseason Mandate:

Proving our point that players aren’t as invested in testing a muddled free agency with few teams having cap space Danny Green opted into his contract. Rudy Gay hasn’t made it official but is expected to opt-out of his contract. In Gay’s situation, he is likely to garner a better contract on the open market given his last negotiations had to include teams viewing how he recuperated from his Achilles injury. Lauvergne also has a player option to which is still to be decided.

https://twitter.com/JoshEberley/status/1008771315258421248

Notably, some critics are either surmising or joking that Rudy Gay and Jamal Crawford of the Wolves are headed for Golden State to help make the Super Team even more Super. If this is the reality than the NBA is in for it over the next several years since they will be like one big Super Team and everyone else. Read: TERRIBLE for the sport.

The obvious elephant in the room is what the Spurs do about Kawhi Leonard. Did LeBron opt-out to make their life more difficult to move Leonard and get anything close to the comparable value in return? Or can Pops summon the same B-Ball whisperer technique he utilized on Aldridge this past offseason?  The other interesting note is the last big-time trade the Spurs made ironically occurred when they sent Georgie Hill to Indy and brought Kawhi to San Antonio.

If death and taxes are two certainties in life the other for as long as I can remember has been the Spurs competing for a top Western seed.  I’ve been burned way too often for suggesting the run was over, so I’ll give Pops the benefit of the doubt that he’ll either garner a fair trade or somehow turn the Kawhi tide.

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