Spurs re-sign Boris Diaw

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The Spurs announced on Tuesday that forward, postseason hero and bachelorette party guest Boris Diaw has re-signed with the team.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Boris Diaw. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Diaw returns to the Silver and Black coming off his best season since 2010-11. The Frenchman appeared in 79 games, averaging 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 25.0 minutes while shooting .521 (302-580) from the field and .402 (45-112) from three-point range. During the 2014 playoffs Diaw averaged 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 26.3 minutes. In the Finals vs. Miami, Diaw posted averages of 6.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 34.2 minutes.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Bobo will receive $22.5 million over the next three seasons, taking him to the ripe age of 35 years old by the time his contract is done.

On the surface, this deal is fair for both sides. Signing Diaw takes the Spurs over the $63 million salary cap, where they’ll have the midlevel exception available to use. Inking Diaw to any smaller deal wouldn’t have mattered as there wouldn’t be enough wiggle room for the Spurs to do anything reasonable under the salary cap.

Might as well reward him for his excellent play in the playoffs, especially in the conference and NBA Finals, and unlock the use of the midlevel exception, which becomes available once a team goes over the cap.

With the signing of Diaw and Matt Bonner’s inevitable return, the Spurs have 14 on the roster. What happens with that 15th roster spot is now the most interesting thing going in Spursland.

R.C. Buford and the front office tend to enjoy the flexibility of having that 15th roster spot open, so it would come as no surprise if San Antonio went into training camp with lineup as-is. That said, Aron Baynes is unsigned, the Spurs inked Bryce Cotton to a make-good contract (if he makes it through training camp without getting cut, he’s guaranteed for the rest of the season) and the MLE is available to sign one of the bigger remaining free agents.

We’ll see what happens as training camp approaches, but in the meantime rejoice, we’ve just been gifted three more seasons of the Boris Diaw Experience.

  • Ray Briggs II

    Still like to see the Spurs grab a veteran backup for Kawhi. Someone who can defend would be a plus.

  • DorieStreet

    “Et tu Boris?”
    Sticking around for another run for the championship.

  • zainn

    Carlos Boozer for MLE?

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  • Brian

    I was really hoping the Spurs would make a run at Vince Carter or Mike Miller, both would provide excellent shooting off the bench, which the Spurs can’t get enough of. But Carter’s going to the Grizzlies and it doesn’t look like the Spurs will target Miller. Oh well, I would rather re-sign Baynes or keep the roster as is at this point for flexibility in the future.

  • Governmentname

    Shawn Marion would be the ideal back-up SF/PF (if he’s willing to come off the bench) making Daye/Ayres irrelevant otherwise Al-Farouq Aminu is a decent back-up option (He’s a very good defender & excellent rebounder but can’t shoot a lick but Chip is the best shot doctor in the business) . Marion is probably going to ask for the full MLE (~2yr/10mill) but Aminu can be had for the Bi-Annual Exception (~2yrs/6mill).

    If Baynes isn’t re-signed I hope it isn’t for Cotton….dude is just not NBA ready & CoJo/Manu can handle the back-up duties by committee. Belly-Nelly can take over Patty’s duties as the designated Gunner. The best case scenario would be trading Ayres for a 2nd rounder, re-signing Baynes & picking-up Marion.

  • Governmentname

    The Spurs are over the cap-space thus they can’t bid for his services unless he clears waivers (very unlikely…….probably going to end up w/ the Bobcat as McRoberts replacement)

  • SomeNasty

    What about Mckael Peitrus? I hear his is working himself into shape another run in the NBA. Could be a nice fit as Leonard’s backup.

  • WSSNW

    I just don’t see the Spurs going with 2 PGs until January which is how long Patty is supposed to be out for. The problem for the Spurs is that the guys who are decent are going to want to play. With Patty out the bench rotation (in order of playing time) looks like this:
    Manu
    Joseph
    Diaw
    Belinili
    ????
    So now Marion would be the 5th guy off the bench at best 15 minutes per game. Personally I think thats perfect for him but I don’t think he sees it that way. He started 76 games last year and averaged 32 minutes.

  • Governmentname

    12 active players on a nightly basis:

    48×5=240 total minutes available

    Tony(30)/Danny (25)/Kawhi(30)/Tim (25)/Tiago(25)->135

    240-135= 105
    Cojo(15)/Manu(20)/Belly(20)/Marion(20)/Diaw(20)->95

    105-95=10
    Garbage Time: Baynes(5) & Daye or Ayers or Anderson (5)

    Along w/ injuries, take into consideration that when Pop rests players there will be opportunity to start or play more minutes.

    Considering he’s 36, Marion isn’t going to give you more than 20 QUALITY minutes on a nightly basis…he has actually been nicked up the past couple of seasons. Let’s not forget he used to come off the bench along w/ Terry & played behind Caron Butler in Dallas before Butler got injured in 2011 (Played career low minutes but got a ring). Thus, I don’t see why he would mind behind the Finals MVP at 36 when Manu/Diaw are part of the bench mob. The only question is whether RC is willing to give him 2yrs/10mill @ 36.

  • Governmentname

    Peitrus is a washed up ego maniac ala Stephen Jackson…He still thinks he’s a starter & wants a long term starter contract.

  • NightcrawlrNath

    Shawn Marion, Ray Allen, Emeka Okafor? Probably all long shots… but look like the best options to me

  • Governmentname

    I just realized that it’s probably best to NOT use the MLE unless it’s a one year deal. The reason being that If RC/Pop are interested in signing Marc Gasol/Aldridge/Love next summer then it’s best to keep Kawhi’s current cap hold & re-sign him next Summer rather than giving him an extension(Same w/ Danny) ala what Morey did w/ Parsons……but Tony would most likely have to be renounced along w/ Tim & Manu. That might also be the reason why RC doesn’t seem too keen on dangling the MLE to anyone not named Pau esp. if it’s longer than 1 yr thus Marion might be out of the question.

  • Brian

    Interesting take on Kawhi’s contract extension, but you’re probably right. If the Spurs are resigned to giving Kawhi max money next season, anyway, it’s best to do it later rather than sooner.

    I would also be willing to throw the entire MLE at Marion for one year (considering the Spurs are far enough below the tax line) to see if he’ll bite. He certainly will not receive that kind of “annual” salary elsewhere, though I’m sure he’s looking for a 2-3 year deal in the $8-10 million range. Nonetheless, Marion would be a great get if the Spurs could pull it off. (This crazy thought is why I’m not a GM)

  • WSSNW

    I totally agree with you but again you’re talking about egos sometimes players see themselves slightly different than GM’s or fans.
    I’m watching Anderson in summer league and he’s totally capable of running the point. It’s nice to watch actually. Sure some of the small guys blow by him on defense but he recovers and sometimes block their shots from behind. It will only be for a few minutes a night anyway. Also Steve Smith pointed out that he’s confident bringing the ball up. He doesn’t turn is back to his defender because he’s afraid of having the ball stolen the way most big men do when they have to play point.