Usually relatively inactive on the free-agent market, the San Antonio Spurs are coming off an offseason that saw them add All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge to the mix.
Attempting to potentially change their MO midstream after a disappointing playoff exit in the conference semifinals, it now appears that the Spurs are looking to be active once again this summer.
We already know that they’re among the handful of teams slated to meet with former MVP Kevin Durant. Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen.
Though, San Antonio appears to be looking at adding a mid-tier option when free agency opens. The team is reportedly interested in former Chicago Bulls big man Pau Gasol.
“I’m told that Pau Gasol is a real priority for (San Antonio). They tried to get him before he signed with Chicago. The Bulls were able to offer him a little bit more than the mid level that year, I think the Spurs had a mid level for him,” The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on his podcast this week. “They can maneuver in San Antonio and probably be able to offer him market value. We’ll see what that’s going to be.”
Gasol would be nowhere near the sexy catch that a player of Durant’s ilk might be. He would, however, add yet another interior presence for a Spurs team that had a dominating front-line with Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard a season ago.
Gasol, 35, averaged 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field for the Chicago Bulls this past season.
While the Spaniard is past his prime, his ability to navigate the low post and hit the mid-range jumper consistently would work well in the Spurs’ system.
It just remains to be seen whether today’s greenish free-agent market would cater to a Spurs team that might not be able to offer him the max.