The 2015 NBA free agency period certainly lived up to the frenzy description with plenty of rumors, big names switching teams and even one star player changing his mind after committing to a team at the last minute. More than $2 billion was spent during the free agency period and while most of the headlines were focused around how the NBA’s salary cap is going up, the shrewd teams still found a way to get amazing deals. It’s no surprise that the San Antonio Spurs – who are a perennial championship contender – managed to get a few of the bargains on our list while leaving all of the crazy spending to the other teams.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Two Years, $10.8 Million
The San Antonio Spurs undoubtedly won the offseason with an incredible free agent haul but it all started with Duncan, who took a major discount in order to make sure that he would have at least one more opportunity to win another NBA title. The 39-year-old was an All-Star, All-NBA third-team and All-Defensive second-team selection last year and he averaged 13.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game in 77 regular season appearances. Duncan not only took the discount in order to create the cap room for another star player in LaMarcus Aldridge and a stronger supporting cast, but he was integral in the recruiting process as well. So many teams nowadays have a tough time convincing players to take the hometown discount but the Spurs easily convinced Duncan, which was a huge win.
David West, San Antonio Spurs
One Year, $1.4 Million
West is one player that Duncan reached out to early in the free agent process, and whatever he said certainly made an impact as the forward left millions on the table to sign the veteran minimum with San Antonio. West would have made $12.6 million next season if he exercised his player option with the Pacers but the two-time All-Star decided that his priority was winning a title, so he opted out and joined Duncan and Aldridge with the Spurs.
What’s even more impressive is that the Spurs convinced West to not only leave the money on the table but to also take a smaller role with the team. Remember, he’s going to come off the page in San Antonio after being a career-long starter. At a $1.4 million, this is a ridiculous steal – especially when you consider last year’s backup big man, Aron Baynes, landed a three-year $20 million deal with the Detroit Pistons.
Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs
Four Years, $45 Million
Green averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and shot better than 41% on three-point shots last season. With three-point specialists being all of the craze these days, most experts predicted he would be on his way out of town with a big free agent deal from a team that wanted to invest in him as a core player.
That didn’t happen though as the Spurs locked up Green early on in the free agent period at $25 million less than the Dallas Mavericks committed to Wesley Matthews. Green isn’t even the third-best option on San Antonio’s roster but he was a key piece during their title run two years ago and will be an important part of the team’s plans moving forward. He could have easily signed for more money elsewhere but he took a pay cut in San Antonio, which means this deal is a huge bargain for them.
Gerald Green, Miami Heat
One Year, $1.4 Million
Green registered 11 20+ point performances last season despite averaging just 19.5 minutes per game, so when he signed for the veteran minimum with Miami, it was clear the Heat landed another absolute steal. Green had more 20+ point outings than Green, Khris Middleton, Draymond Green and DeMarre Carroll and while those four players signed for a combined $257 million, Green took the veteran minimum. One executive called Green’s contract, “the best bargain offseason signing”. And while he isn’t a core franchise player, he could have almost certainly landed more than the veteran minimum had he wanted to play for another team.
