NBA Rumors: Manu Ginobili opts out of contract

Manu Ginobili has opted out of his deal with the San Antonio Spurs, according to The Vertical.

The San Antonio Spurs’ Big 3 has been together since 2001, but we could be seeing the end of an era. After the Spurs were bounced from the second round, the topic of conversation shifted to whether Tim Duncan would retire, but now there are question marks surrounding Manu Ginobili’s status for next year, as he has opted out of his current deal.

According to The Vertical, he had one year left on his contract, which was worth $2.9 million. He has until Wednesday to make a decision, but he is leaning towards returning to the Spurs under a new deal.

Ginobili has been on the decline, which is to be expected for a 38-year-old, but in the playoffs he averaged just 6.7 points and 2.5 assists. He shouldn’t be making more than he is right now, but this opt-out is likely done with all the buzz surrounding Kevin Durant. The Spurs are expected to be in the running for Durant, and if they give him a max deal, they might not have enough room to keep GInobili.

Whether Manu returns to the Spurs or not, they’re a well-oiled machine and will remain competitive, but that won’t make his potential exit any less meaningful. He has served the team well since being drafted by 1999, and will leave behind a storied career when he finally decides to call it quits.

Visit our NBA Free Agency page for the latest news and rumors.