JULY 18, 1:05pm: The Spurs have officially signed Lauvergne, the team confirmed today in a press release.
JULY 10, 2:00pm: The Spurs have reached a two-year contract agreement with free agent big man Joffrey Lauvergne, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical. The news comes on the heels of the Bulls withdrawing Lauvergne’s qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent, which will allow him to sign outright with San Antonio.
Lauvergne, a second-round pick in 2013, made his NBA debut for the Nuggets in 2014 and spent two years with the franchise before being sent to the Thunder in a trade last August. He was flipped again at this year’s trade deadline, heading to Chicago as part of a trade package in a deal that saw Oklahoma City land Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott.
Lauvergne, a 6’11” forward/center, looked like a player on the rise in 2015/16, averaging 7.9 PPG and 4.9 RPG with a .513 FG% in 59 games (17.6 MPG) for the Nuggets. However, he took a step backward last season. For the year, he recorded just 5.4 PPG and 3.6 RPG with a .440 FG% in 70 contests.
Despite his very modest production for the Bulls down the stretch, Lauvergne initially received a qualifying offer worth about $2.14MM from the team, which made him a restricted free agent. However, Chicago apparently decided that the big man wasn’t in the team’s long-term plans, allowing him to reach the open market with no restrictions over the weekend.
While details of the Spurs’ agreement with Lauvergne aren’t yet known, the club already used its full mid-level exception on Rudy Gay, leaving the $3.29MM bi-annual exception and the minimum salary exception for other free agents. San Antonio had been in need of some frontcourt depth, with Dewayne Dedmon, David Lee, and Pau Gasol all on the free agent market, though Gasol is expected to re-sign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
It’s always scary when the Spurs scoop up a player that quick. Makes me question the Bulls decision to pull his qualifying offer even more than I already did
The guy is nothing more than depth, which is needed for contenders. But He’ll sit deep on the Spurs bench.
He will play.
And he’s a foreign player lol. The Spurs’ track record with foreign players has been/still is the best in the league. Their international scouting since Popovich took over has been just as good, if not better, than some teams’ domestic scouting.
What depth at the 4/5? Pau is gone, Joel Anthony is gone, Dedmon is most likely gone
Pau is not gone, he opted out with the intent of resigning for less (maybe extra year) to give the Spurs some extra room on the salary cap
you might see more small ball this year as well, Aldredge at Center, Leonard and Gay at Forward spots
Yeah you are right. But presently there is no Gasol on the roster
Pau is coming back, Aldridge, bertans. Need to add probably one more. Lee and dedmon spots. I think Lee will return though. We will see.
Well actually just be 1 big to replace Lee and Dedmons. Remember they just signed this guy wonder who Gay replaces? Maybe Ginobbli or simmons if they don’t come back.
What are you afraid of
Him starting to average 12 and 7 and become a huge steal.
Exactly
Is it for the minimum or the BAE or part of the BAE?
Don’t believe that’s been reported yet.
Ok