In that conversation with McDonald earlier in the spring, the veteran reportedly sounded “genuinely torn” over whether or not to pick up his option, but it makes some sense that he’d seek a new deal on the open market. “I didn’t feel like there was anything worse I can go through (than the Achilles tendon injury).”
“A lot of times, I will-powered through games, will-powered through practices,” Gay told Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News in April. However, he was nagged by Achilles and heel problems during the winter, limiting him to 57 regular season games - he never seemed fully like his old self. Gay, whose 2016/17 campaign ended early due to an Achilles injury, made a speedy recovery and was ready to go for the Spurs in the fall after signing a two-year, $17.2MM deal with the club. The option would have paid Gay a salary of $8,826,300 for next season.
Spurs forward Rudy Gay will turn down his 2018/19 player option, electing to become a free agent on July 1, reports ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
