I know Coach Popovich isn’t one to play rookies very often, but Vassell isn’t the typical low draft pick they’re accustomed to drafting. That is, of course, if you’ve completely forgotten about Devin Vassell. At 6-8, Rudy is often the only option to guard certain athletic forwards off the bench. Until Derrick White returns to the lineup, Gregg Popovich will probably keep utilizing Gay for about 25 minutes per game, as he’s been doing. 3 Contenders who might want to trade for Gay How should the San Antonio Spurs adjust their usage of Rudy Gay? Without Derrick White, San Antonio’s defense can’t keep up with its offense against most teams. He’s still a prolific scorer that may be having a rough start to the season, but the Spurs can’t afford for that slump to last much longer. He’s also attempting way too many threes at 6.2 per game, while the next Spur on the list is Patty Mills with 4.7.Īt 34-years-old, Gay isn’t washed by any means. Gay has attempted nine or more shots in all but one game so far this season, which would be ok if he wasn’t shooting a career-low in both field goal percentage (39.4) and 3-point percentage (27). Rudy has been in the league long enough to know that no one’s making this shot over Anthony Davis. In the first six games, it seems like Rudy has been trying to meet a quota for shots attempted, with many of them being questionable shots. One of the downs for Silver and Black so far has been the play of 15-year vet Rudy Gay. As San Antonio enters a brutal January where they’ll have a maximum of one day of rest between games all month, they may need to make some changes to keep afloat.
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Currently riding a four-game losing streak into Los Angeles, they’ll also be without the services of Derrick White for the foreseeable future after his toe re-injury.ĭecember had its ups and downs for the Spurs, with the brightest spot being the fearless play of Keldon Johnson on both ends of the floor. The start of the season has been less than ideal for the San Antonio Spurs. If Gay is going to be stuck leaving money on the table, San Antonio is the place to do it.Rudy Gay has had a remarkable NBA career, but is his rough start to the new season enough for the San Antonio Spurs to look to other options going forward? He almost certainly won’t be the key to taking down the Warriors, but there weren’t too many better ways for the Spurs to spend their mid-level while keeping their big-picture vision locked on next summer. For that reason, Gay’s arrival in San Antonio-and the narrower role he steps into-should be met with measured optimism and patience. If there’s one thing Gregg Popovich and company succeed at, though, it’s casting their pieces properly. Gay will likely be remembered when he retires as a talented scorer who was miscast as a lead option and who frustrated observers by never reaching his star potential. Right now, Gay’s player option looks mostly like protection against a re-injury and his ability to rehab his market value and re-enter the market next summer keeps San Antonio in position to make a major strike if a big fish becomes available. San Antonio is set to enjoy significant flexibility next summer when LaMarcus Aldridge can opt out of his contract and Tony Parker’s current deal ends.
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In Sacramento, though, the Kings played better with him on the court in each of the last three seasons and he led the team with a +1.7 net rating last year.įinally, the Spurs seem to have settled into viewing 2017-18 as a transition year after missing out on Chris Paul and other high-profile potential difference-makers via trade or free-agent signing. An athletic wing with a smooth stroke and two FIBA gold medals to his name, Gay has long battled a reputation for empty stats and middling advanced numbers. Gay (18.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG) hasn’t advanced to the postseason since 2012, and his departures from Memphis and Toronto coincided with upticks in play from his former teams. 18, turned down a $14 million option to remain with the Kings after spending three-plus seasons in Sacramento.Īt first blush, this deal makes for an odd couple arrangement between an organization known for its consistent winning and a player known for the opposite. Of note, Gay, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear on Jan.
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The agreement, which required San Antonio’s mid-level exception, includes a player option for the 2018-19 season. The Spurs signed Gay, 30, to a two-year contract worth a reported $17.2 million on Thursday. Rudy Gay’s 12th NBA season just might produce his first trip to the second round of the playoffs.