Report: Davis Bertans Switching Spanish Teams

by

The San Antonio Spurs can always use shooting and with all the uncertainty this summer, there was a thought for a little while that next season would be the time to add Latvian prospect Davis Bertans to the roster. It looks like that will have to wait at least another year. According to Spanish paper Ara, FC Barcelona has a deal in place to sign Bertans away from Baskonia.

Bertans signed a three year deal with Baskonia last summer, so we are talking about some sort of buyout for him to join Barcelona. This is yet another step up for Bertans, as Barcelona is a titan in Spanish ACB. Bertans tore his ACL for the second time in three years in March. He flew to San Antonio to have surgery to repair the tear.

When Bertans signed with Baskonia last season, reports indicated he had buyout options after every year of his deal. We don’t know what this deal looks like, but it obviously means the idea of Bertans in silver and black is on hold for at least one season and frankly, that notion went out the door when he hurt his knee again. It’s not that the Spurs will value Bertans any less. He’s in San Antonio and will likely stay through the summer and rehab his knee under the guidance of the Spurs training staff. In the past, he’s traveled with the team to Las Vegas for Summer League.

During his final media availability of the season, Gregg Popovich said he anticipates the team looking different next year due to the sheer amount of free agents. If you would’ve asked me before injuring his knee in March, I would’ve told you I anticipate Bertans being a part of the Spurs summer plans. He was a leading scorer for a good team in the second best basketball league on the planet. And he has a skill the Spurs value as much as any… the ability to stretch the floor from the power forward position (he’s stretch four in the NBA).

So without him they’ll look elsewhere to fill the shooter role, but no doubt the move to Barcelona is a positive one for Bertans as he continues to develop into one of Europe’s best shooters.

  • j. jordan

    No offense, but why are you guys still writing articles about this player? I’m not sure what he can bring to the team now. It’s been 4 years and 2 knee injuries. I believe a better player can be found stateside.

  • DorieStreet

    I 2nd the motion. Wake me up when he is on Texas soil in late September-participating in the Spurs training camp.

  • Tyler

    Huge move for him. Barca is one level away from the NBA. If he plays well, it bodes well for his NBA chances.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    What is that they say in football, that the most popular player on the team is the backup quarterback (or for hockey, the backup goalie?). In Spurs mythos, the most popular player is always “that guy” overseas (I remember when we were salivating over the prospect of Tiago Splitter 5 years ago lol).

  • DorieStreet

    You’re on point, “Pimpin”. Another way to look at it:
    You know someone who put an item on layaway. The person shows you the product in the magazine/brochure, happily extolling all of the good features. The person may even take you by the store to show you a model of their intended purchase. You then ask, “When will you bring it home?” The reply is “i don’t know-my payments are kind of small/ I can’t make payments on a regular schedule.”
    We hear the news of great play, or the competition level the ‘D & S’ guys is ideal for their development; but there is never a definite timetable for their arrival in San Antonio. (Players not quite ready/sure he wants to come over-or his overseas team puts up a roadblock—refuse to release / $$$$ buyout.)
    What season will ______ arrive after his draft date…2 years; 3…4….5?

  • Graham

    Yep. Not sure why people are writing him off because he isn’t coming over in the early years of his prime. We aren’t expecting him to be even the 3rd or 4th best guy on the team at this point, but having a solid marksman stretch 4 option off the bench is never a bad thing, especially if Bonner is going to be gone.

  • Juba

    Didn’t the Spurs’ doctors repair his first ACL tear? And he gets another and they’re the ones who repaired it again. Maybe he should have sought an outside doctor.

  • este

    I’m guessing they’re writing articles about Bertans because this is a blog about the Spurs and its nice for Spurs fans to have access this info. You didn’t have to click on the article and read it.

  • j. jordan

    Yeah, you missed my point entirely (and not necessary to click on the article to comprehend the content, btw). This guy is not even close to coming to the NBA; the Spurs need to be looking at stateside talent.