Gasol agrees to three-year deal with Spurs—report
In this May 3, 2017, file photo, San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) dunks the ball in front of Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela, right, during the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in San Antonio. A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Gasol has agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Spurs. The 7-foot Spaniard and the team came to agreement on Friday, July 21, 2017, on a deal that is partially guaranteed for the third season. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
NEW YORK—Spanish 37-year-old free agent center Pau Gasol, a six-time NBA All-Star, has agreed to a three-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN reported Friday.
The contract, according to unnamed sources in the ESPN website report, will include a partial guarantee in the final season for the Barcelona-born star, who is set to start his 17th NBA campaign later this year.
Gasol, who won NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers, spent seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies before being traded to the Lakers in 2008. He signed as a free agent with Chicago in 2014 and San Antonio last July.
In 64 games for the Spurs last season, Gasol averaged 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots as San Antonio went 61-21, the NBA’s second-best record behind eventual playoff champion Golden State.
Gasol has career NBA averages of 17.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocked shots over 1,119 games.
By declining his $16.2 million contract option for next season, Gasol allowed the Spurs salary cap room to sign fellow free agents Rudy Gay, Brandon Paul and Joffrey Lauvergne and are in talks to bring back Argentine star reserve guard Manu Ginobili for a 16th season in San Antonio.
