Tim Duncan: How Will His Contract Decision Impact the San Antonio Spurs?

Jeff McDonald of Spurs Nation reports that Tim Duncan is not expected to opt out of the final year of his contract. Many of the Spurs faithful believed that the face of the franchise would opt out and re-negotiate a new contract with the aim of providing the club with cap flexibility in order to pursue a proven front court mate that could help Duncan in his quest for a fifth ring.

This decision changes the dynamics of this offseason as well as the future. What type of impact will Duncan’s decision have immediately and long-term? Before we address this question, let us take a minute to pause and recognize the sacrifice Tim Duncan has made throughout his career to make the Spurs a viable contender year after year.

Timmy was the prime target of the Orlando Magic in the 2000 free agency class. Their goal was to lure him away from a Spurs team lacking another legitimate all-star by pairing Duncan with Grant Hill, who, at the time, was billed as the next Michael Jordan. The Magic were relentless in their pursuit of Duncan, enlisting the help of Tiger Woods and Julius Irving with the hopes of persuading Timmy to make Orlando his new home.

There was no “Decision” or grand-standing on Duncan’s behalf; rather, he quietly assured Coach Popovich of his intentions to stay put. Duncan was willing to sacrifice the lure of a larger market and possibly more money for the comfort he experienced with his current teammates and coaching staff.

Several years later, Duncan would again demonstrate his unselfish mentality by leaving money on the table, which gave the Spurs the flexibility to add Richard Jefferson to the team.

It’s time for Duncan to get paid! He’s earned the 21 million owed him this year, if not for his willingness to put team first, then for all of the success he has brought to San Antonio over the last 14 seasons. Call it a going away present, except let’s hope that he chooses to keep playing.

To put this in perspective, Kobe will earn nearly 25 million this season and 30 million in 2013. Gilbert Arenas will earn 19 million, and Rashard Lewis will make 22 million this season. Surely, the greatest power forward to play the game is entitled to what is likely his last big payday without the naysayers clamoring for him to sacrifice once again?

We won’t know definitively how this will impact the Spurs until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached, at which point we will know for sure what the 2011-12 salary cap will be.  However, if it remains the same as last year, the Spurs will be over the cap and will have only their exceptions to use for any free agent they may target. Apart from a few new faces to fill up the end of the bench and rookies, Spurs fans should expect the same collection of talent playing in silver and black next season that finished with the best record in the Western Conference last year.

Tim Duncan will be 36 years of age at the end of next season when his contract expires. To speculate that he will simply head off into retirement is a bit premature. It is obvious that the love of the game still burns deep within him, and he is still one of the best post defenders in the game. Under the direction of Greg Popovich, the Spurs have adopted a new offensive identity that no long puts pressure on Duncan to score 20 points per night.

As the Spurs seek to develop their young talent like Tiago Splitter and Dejuan Blair and give them a larger role, the transition for Duncan from focal point to role player as he enters the twilight of his career will be that much easier. Therefore, it stands to reason that Tim Duncan’s decision not to opt out of his contract is not the end, but quite possibly a new beginning for the man who is the face of the San Antonio Spurs.