LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Paul Gasol has agreed to join San Antonio on a two-year deal worth $30 million as Spurs legend Tim Duncan mulled retirement, reports said Monday.
Spanish star Gasol has verbally agreed to join San Antonio after spending the past two seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
The former Los Angeles Lakers player averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds) per game last season but was unable to lead the the Bulls into the playoffs.
Gasol, 35, became a free agent on June 27 and is expected to double his current salary in Chicago.
His move to San Antonio completes a long courtship which began in 2014, when he almost signed for the team before heading to Chicago instead.
News of Gasol’s expected move came as a report in San Antonio surfaced suggesting that long-serving power forward Duncan was preparing to call time on his 19-year career.
The three-time NBA Finals MVP and two-time regular-season MVP, widely regarded as one of the best power forwards ever to play the game, has hinted to officials and team-mates that he plans to retire imminently.
Duncan, 40, was the number one in pick in the 1997 draft and is one of only two players to win an NBA title in three different decades.
Duncan has averaged 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during his career.
Last season’s campaign was disrupted by a knee injury and he played in only 61 games.
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