NBA Trade Update: Gasol leaves Bulls for Spurs as Diaw joins Utah Jazz
Pau Gasol will be playing for the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-17 after the veteran free agent confirmed he has agreed to sign a contract with the NBA contenders.
After two seasons with the Chicago Bulls, two-time NBA champion and 35-year-old Gasol has opted to join the Spurs via free agency.
Gasol, who averaged 16.5 points, 11 rebounds, 4.1 assists and two blocks per game in 2015-16, tweeted on Tuesday: “After many days of a lot of thinking, I’ve decided to join the @spurs! Looking forward to this new chapter with the best aspirations!”
After many days of a lot of thinking, I’ve decided to join the @spurs!Looking forward to this new chapter with the best aspirations!
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) July 5, 2016
The Spurs have also traded forward Boris Diaw to the Utah Jazz to clear the needed cap space for Gasol.
Utah will reportedly send signing rights for 2015 second-round pick Olivier Hanlan to the Spurs, who reached the Western Conference semi-finals last season.
In a pair of tweets, Diaw thanked Spurs fans for their support and expressed his excitement at joining fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert in Utah.
Spurs’ fans, thanks for all your messages. Great years here and a ring! Leaving but San Antonio will always be a special place to me.
— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) July 5, 2016
Hey @utahjazz and @rudygobert27 ! I’m looking forward seeing you !
— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) July 5, 2016
Diaw, 34, averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season.
