San Antonio Spurs 2016-2017 Roster: Can They Hold by Adding Ginobili, Gasol as Tim Duncan Retires?
Manu Ginobili is out of retirement and is going to be the biggest gun to be added to the San Antonio Spurs this season together with Pau Gasol who already signed a two year term for $30 million. The Spurs presently have a $92.2 million payroll and giving a space for the 38-year-old Ginobili's $4.4 million cap a potential raise. This season is going to be Ginobili's 15th outing with the NBA.
Although this is likely to be Ginobili's last ride with the NBA, the soon-to-be 29-years-old has won four NBA titles with the Spurs since joining in 2002. While the addition of Gasol set the Spurs into the list of handful teams that can be considered as capable of snatching the championship in the up and coming season.
Other players to grace the team are small forward Kyle Anderson, shooting guards Dejounte Murray and Kevin Martin, point guard Patty Mills and Jonathon Simmons to work on both wings.
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To recall, Greg Poppovich's squad blew their chance in the finals after a second-round playoff loss to Oklahoma, finishing a franchise record of 67 wins. The addition of Ginobili and Gasol is deemed timely since the reports are looming that Spurs is facing a limbo after the all-star and two-time MVP Tim Duncan had earlier hinted that he is seriously considering a retirement. Popovich said that they have anticipated Duncan's plans and still waits for the 40-year old five-time champion to decide if he will play for his 20th season or retire.
It is a possibility that the team even waives the 40-year-old Duncan so he can collect all of his salary for next season. Especially that the Spurs needs to clear out some salary-cap space, the move seems wise show of appreciation for Duncan who is known to be always amenable to rework his contracts or even take less money to afford the Spurs more cap flexibility to afford free agents like LaMarcus Aldridge.
Duncan has a not-so-good statistics last season, finishing a career-low 8.6 points on 48.8 percent shooting and 7.3 boards defense at 25.2 minutes playtime. The 6-foot-11 Duncan stil, has the edge under the basket with a 96 defensive rating, although this shows that there are already several better defenders in the NBA. What catapulted the Spur's success are upbeat players Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, and Tony Parker who filled the gap for the squad.
If this is an end for the Duncan era, he will finish an illustrious career of 19 seasons, bagging an impressive record of two-time league MVP, three-time finals MVP, 15 all-stars appearance and five championship rings.
