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Spurs swingman Richard Jefferson has opted out of the final year of his contract and will become a free agent.Spurs spokesman Tom James said the nine-year veteran informed the team Thursday. Jefferson was due to make about $15 million next year after underachieving in his first season in San Antonio.
Jefferson, who turned 30 years old this month, averaged 12.3 points last season, his lowest since his rookie year.
Coming off such a disappointing season, Jefferson likely won't be able to earn all of the money he left on the table back in a single season, but as he told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson in April, he hopes a temporary pay cut will result in long-term security.
Share "I probably wouldn't make 15 [million dollars] some place, but you could somehow recoup some of that over a multi-year deal and get some guaranteed money for the next few years," he said.
"So you figure it out. If you're able to get four years and 40 [million dollars by opting out] from someone, it's like, 'OK, I did lose out on 15 [million dollars]. But I'm going to get basically a $25 million extension.' Those are things that you think of at the end of the season.''
"I probably wouldn't make 15 [million dollars] some place, but you could somehow recoup some of that over a multi-year deal and get some guaranteed money for the next few years."
- Richard Jefferson Jefferson struggled to adapt to coach Gregg Popovich's system, at one point losing his job in the starting lineup, and it's possible Jefferson feared another season in San Antonio would continue to damage his earning potential. Even so, one individual close to the situation believes the most likely scenario is for Jefferson to re-sign with San Antonio for less money next year but receive a multi-year deal for enough money to make it
worthwhile.
"I'm not going to get $15 million in this system [San Antonio's],'' Jefferson said in April. "I'm not a $15 million player. In a Phoenix situation, in a place that's more up and down and more fast-paced, my value and my stock probably rises. In a little bit slower-down offense, with the type of play that we have here, my value changes.''
The Spurs traded for Jefferson and his hefty contract last summer in a deal with Milwaukee. Jefferson averaged 19.6 points in his lone season with the Bucks, and 22.6 points in 2007-08 with the Nets. He's missed just one game the last three seasons combined.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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