The 2012 free agency period is underway and to no one’s surprise, the San Antonio Spurs haven’t 
been one of the teams all over the rumor headlines. But, the most important signing for the Spurs this offseason will be re-signing future Hall-of-Famer Tim Duncan. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (just as free agency began), the Spurs and Duncan are sure to create a new deal, only there will be a timetable in place.
Spurs’ fluid plan w/Spur For Life Tim Duncan: I’m told they’ll pound out deal specifics & then finalize when timing meshes best w/other biz.
The Spurs are one of the best teams that handles their business out of the media’s eye, and from what it sounds like in Stein’s tweet, the Spurs will have a new deal in place with Duncan behind closed doors, but may not have a contract signed until the team has taken care of some of their other offseason priorities.
The priorities could include re-signing some of their current free agents (Boris Diaw, Danny Green, Patty Mills), negotiating with two of their European talents (Erazem Lorbek, Nando De Colo), possibly making some trades, or the Spurs might also have some free agents on their list that they’d like to pursue.
The real question is how much money will the Spurs offer Duncan in a new deal? Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics came to a new deal on Saturday that was worth 34 million for three seasons. The Spurs could also offer Duncan a deal in the 9-11 million dollar range, and possibly 1-2 years as well.
Update: Sunday evening July 1
Yahoo’s Marc Spears is reporting the Spurs and Duncan are in the early stages of negotiating a new deal and he says the chances of Duncan signing elsewhere are almost impossible.
Spurs Tim Duncan having good contractual talks with SA about re-signing & its very unlikely he will consider another team, sources told Y!
No surprise since Tim Duncan previously told Yahoo! Sportsa’ Johnny Ludden he will be a “Spur for life.”
Free agents can’t sign NBA contracts until July 11; the key is to look for word when the Spurs and Duncan will come to a verbal agreement on a new deal in the coming days, if it’s released.
Follow Project Spurs throughout the summer as we’ll be bringing you the latest Spurs news and rumors in free agency.
