Day one of NBA Free Agency was Monday, June 29, and the San Antonio Spurs didn't waste any time.
Day one of NBA free agency was on Monday, June 29. Players couldn't sign with new teams, although options could be declined, and players could re-sign with their old teams.
While the Spurs have been linked to free agents like LeBron James, John Collins, and Rui Hachimura, among others, they had to take care of their own, first.
It was a busy day for the Silver and Black. Of course, the headlining event will be Victor Wembanyama signing a maximum extension, although news of that hasn't broken quite yet.
With the first 24 hours of free agency in the books, here are all the moves the Spurs made.
Recapping Spurs' Free Agent Moves
To open up free agency, the Spurs declined Julian Champgnie's $3 million player option for next season, instead inking him to a new, three-year deal worth $45 million. The contract is frontloaded, so when the Spurs have to extend Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant, and Devin Vassell in future offseasons, they will retain the flexibility to do so.
Last season, Champagnie sank 195 3-pointers, a franchise record. He's a high-end rebounder for his size and the best shooter on the team, stepping into a bigger role after Mitch Johnson benched Harrison Barnes. Champagnie is expected to play a key role as the Spurs continue to push for a title.
Speaking of Barnes, the Spurs signed the veteran to a one-year, $8 million deal. While he did disappear in the playoffs and Finals, he played in 77 games and appeared in all 82 contests in each of the three seasons before that.
Barnes is a solid backup wing who can space the floor and is a key veteran in the locker room. Of course, the Spurs want to focus on youth, so they extended both Harrison Ingram and David Jones-Garcia two-way qualifying offers.
In layman's terms, unless another team offers them a standard contract, both players will be on two-way contracts next season. That likely means that only one of the Spurs' second-round picks, either Ja'Kobi Gillespie or Malik Brown, will get the final two-way spot.
Expect Summer League to be make-or-break for both players, and for the Spurs to make another move once free agency really opens up, and players can switch teams.
