Spurs forward Rudy Gay will test NBA free agency this summer

In the last several days, the San Antonio Spurs have shifted their attention. The team has spent time on their ongoing situation with All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard. However, there is expected to be a few other notable roster moves that could lie ahead of the franchise.

One of which will now be veteran forward Rudy Gay expected to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent this summer after declining the player option of his two-year, $17.2 million deal, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.

San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay is declining his 2018-19 player option to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, league sources tell ESPN.
Gay is turning down a salary of $8.8 million in order to hit free agency.

Related: LeBron Reportedly Looking for Reasons to Stay in Cleveland

In his first season with the Spurs, the 31-year-old took on a significant role off the bench. He averaged 11.5 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the field. As well as that, he had 5.1 rebounds in a career-low 21.6 minutes per contest. This was his first campaign back from a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in January 2017. As a result, he was able to show more improved play as the season rolled along.

Want $250 to bet on NBA futures?

The decision to opt out of his deal doesn’t necessarily mean that his time with the team has come to an end. Veteran big man Pau Gasol had opted out of the second year of his deal last summer. However, he wound up inking a three-year, $48 million deal to stay in San Antonio.

Gay will now join what’s expected to be a stacked free-agent market that includes several prominent star players such as LeBron James, Chris Paul, Paul George, and DeMarcus Cousins.