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The San Antonio Spurs defied most of their preseason doubters by finishing tenth and qualifying for the NBA play-in tournament. While they ended up missing out on the playoffs, Gregg Popovich masterminded another gutsy campaign as the franchise looks to rebuild.
The offseason will be crucial for the San Antonio Spurs, who are projected to have $50m in cap space. They have a core of bright young talent centered around Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker and Keldon Johnson. They also have numerous veteran free agents, some of whom we will examine in this article.
Which players could be departing the San Antonio Spurs this summer?
The San Antonio Spurs fanbase have come accustomed to seeing their side battle at the top level in NBA basketball. However, since they were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals in 2017, they have failed to make it past the first round. Meanwhile, since Kawhi Leonard left in 2018, they have missed out on the postseason altogether twice.
Having said that, with their considerable spending power in the offseason, the Spurs could become contenders again with a few key acquisitions.
Let's take a look at a few players who could be departing the franchise as they look to revamp their squad.
#3 Rudy Gay
Rudy Gay has been a consistent scorer and rebounder throughout his career in the NBA. He would be a valuable veteran to any team if the San Antonio Spurs do not offer him a new deal or if another team offers him a better one.
Gay will become a free agent in the summer after spending four seasons with the Spurs. In that time, he averaged 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in just 23 minutes per night, usually as Popovich's backup forward option. He is a versatile wing player who shot the three-ball with an accuracy of 38% this year.
With the San Antonio Spurs looking to rebuild their roster around their young stars, they may look to retain some of their veterans, such as Gay, to keep some value and consistency on the bench.
If he were to move on, the 34-year-old would add a lot of upside to any title-chasing team as a backup scorer. Since he also hasn't won a ring in his career, he may see it as an opportunity to test the free agency waters.
#2 Patty Mills
Patty Mills is ingrained in the San Antonio Spurs culture, and fans will have a tough time saying goodbye to him after he spent 10 years with the franchise.
Throughout that time, he has performed admirably as Popovich's backup point guard. He is extremely reliable on the ball, turning it over only 1.7 times every 36 minutes.
Mills began the season in red-hot form and was averaging 14 points per game over the first 20 fixtures. However, he leveled out to average 10.8 points a night off the bench. He is also a fairly reliable shooter from downtown, connecting with 37% of attempts during the 2020-21 campaign.
At 32 and with the experience he has had with the San Antonio Spurs as a championship winner, Mills will be highly sought-after as an unrestricted free agent. What is not guaranteed is whether the Spurs will want him back, as that will ultimately decide his future.
The franchise appreciates loyalty and likes to make minimal changes to the roster, even if they are looking to rebuild. Mills is unlikely to leave, but he will garner strong interest across the NBA as a cheap veteran.
#1 DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan is the San Antonio Spurs player who is most likely to leave in the offseason.
Versatile and consistent, DeRozan will be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market this summer, and it is unlikely that he will want to sign away more of his prime years with the Spurs.
For the eighth season in a row, DeRozan averaged over 20 points and dished out a career-high 6.9 assists per game this year. There will definitely be plenty of offers on the table for him in the offseason.
DeRozan is clinical when on the floor, shooting at close to 50% from the field and 88% from the line. He knows his role in the mid-range and has mastered it to a tee. His offensive efficiency is at an elite level, and he has the veteran experience to help a team that is looking to add a second scorer behind their leader.
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