After four seasons, Rudy Gay is leaving the Spurs for the Utah Jazz – San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs helped Rudy Gay revive his career in the summer of 2017.
He was still recovering from a horrific Achilles tendon tear suffered in Sacramento when the Spurs threw him a contract and a lifeline.
Gay’s time with the Spurs is up.
After four mostly productive seasons in San Antonio, Gay on Tuesday agreed to a deal to join the Utah Jazz.
Gay averaged 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in his Spurs stint and developed into a steady locker room presence for a Spurs team that often needed it.
He arrived intending to join a Spurs team still in the throes of success, having lost to Golden State in the conference finals a few weeks before Gay signed with San Antonio.
The trade of star forward Kawhi Leonard to Toronto in the summer of 2018 hastened a rebuilding project and transformed Gay into a mentor for many an up-and-coming Spurs player.
By the end of last season, the 34-year-old Gay was the oldest player on the Spurs roster.
For Gay, who has appeared in three postseason series in his 15-year career, the move to Utah represents a chance to join a solid playoff team.
The Jazz have made the postseason for five consecutive seasons and finished the 2020-21 campaign with the NBA’s top record at 52-20.
Gay might not be the only veteran name leaving San Antonio as free agency continues.
DeMar DeRozan remains the biggest name on the free agent pile, with the Spurs investigating sign-and-trade options for him. The team has not ruled out re-signing the four-time All-Star on a shorter-term deal.
Franchise mainstay Patty Mills, who has been with the Spurs since 2012, has received interest from the L.A. Lakers, Boston, and Golden State.
Two lesser-used members of the Spurs’ rotation – Trey Lyles and Gorgui Dieng – will also have new homes. Lyles agreed to a deal in Detroit, while Dieng is headed to Atlanta.
The Spurs opened free agency on Monday by agreeing to contracts with Indiana forward Doug McDermott and Portland big man Zach Collins.
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN