The Tim Duncan era is probably over in San Antonio.
Enter Pau Gasol.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Free agent Pau Gasol is finalzing a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2016
Sources on @TheVertical: Spurs, Pau Gasol finalizing a two-year, $30M-plus deal. Player option after first season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2016
Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard will form a heck of a frontline -- especially offensively. Gasol, a skilled interior scorer and passer, should fit tremendously with the Spurs. He’ll have no trouble picking up their concepts, either.
Defense will present more of an issue. Gregg Popovich will have his work cut out to scheme around Gasol’s limitations.
This is a nice signing, though I’m not sure Gasol tops what Duncan did last year. Gasol might outperform what Duncan would’ve done this year, which is far more relevant.
But with the Warriors setting the standard -- and raising the bar even higher by signing Kevin Durant -- it’s hard to see San Antonio leaping into that top tier.