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The San Antonio Spurs have bought out veteran center Pau Gasol, who has agreed to join the Milwaukee Bucks.
The San Antonio Spurs and center Pau Gasol have agreed on a contract buyout, clearing the way for the six-time All-Star to be playoffs-eligible for his next team, league sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2019
Pau Gasol is planning to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2019
Today is the final day for players to be waived and still be playoff-eligible when they join a new team. That means that the Bucks were able to bolster their roster just in the nick of time.
The six-time All-Star, three-time champion, and 18-year veteran hasn’t received much playing time with the Spurs this year, as they’ve opted to at times go smaller with LaMarcus Aldridge at center, and at other times go younger with Jakob Poeltl. Gasol has also dealt with injuries.
Still, the future Hall of Famer has shown flashes of his old self, and is averaging 12.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per 36 minutes, while still looking solid on defense. He can provide valuable bench minutes for the Bucks, who don’t have any trustworthy center options behind Brook Lopez.
Milwaukee is hoping to meet the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, and they’ve stated their case emphatically, accumulating the league’s best record and net rating, and then adding valuable bench additions Gasol and Nikola Mirotic. They’re gearing up for a run at the dynastic Dubs.
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