NBA Free Agency: Pau Gasol to decline option, renegotiate with Spurs

San Antonio Spurs forward Pau Gasol will decline his $16.2 million option for this upcoming season in favor of trying to renegotiate a long term contract with Spurs, per Adrian Wojnarowski. 

The team-first culture for the San Antonio Spurs has set a precedent in the NBA for the past 20 years. The Spurs always have sought out players who will put the team first on and off the court. The results? Five championships since 1999. In the summer of 2016, the Spurs locked in Pau Gasol, a talented big man nearing the end of his career, for a two-year, $30 million contract. The contract featured a player option after the first year.

Gasol, who won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, provided the Spurs with great production primarily off the bench this past season. But, Gasol is set to decline that $16.2 million option in favor of restructuring for a long-term deal.

Is Gasol restructuring for a long-term, smaller pay deal to help bring in Chris Paul? It’s a high possibility. A by-product of a great culture in professional sports are players willing to take pay cuts for the greater good of the team. For Gasol, there’s no need for him to request top dollar from the Spurs. Gasol will turn 37 in July, so his time in the NBA is winding down. It would make sense for Gasol to take a longer contract for less money, if it gives him a better chance at winning another ring. In turn, the Spurs can lock in players they believe are a necessity to compete for an NBA title.

Next: 2017 FanSided NBA Network Mock Draft: Let the experts decide

If Chris Paul is indeed who Gasol is holding out for, then the Spurs will thank him later. Paul could command max dollars, but he could become a crucial piece to the Spurs continuing their trend of being yearly contenders for the NBA title. All thanks to Gasol restructuring his contract.