Sources: Danny Green is expected to skip free agency; opt-in final year with Spurs

Danny Green has turned defense into an art form. Danny Green has turned defense into an art form. Photo: Jeff Chiu /Associated Press Photo: Jeff Chiu /Associated Press Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Sources: Danny Green is expected to skip free agency; opt-in final year with Spurs 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

It's not an easy decision, but in the end, Danny Green has always bet on himself.

League sources tell the Express-News Green will likely forgo free agency and exercise the final year of his contract with the Spurs, earning roughly $10 million for the 2018-19 season.

Green, who will turn 31 Friday (June 22), averaged 8.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 70 games last season. His production on offense was the most he's averaged since the 2014-15 season (averaged 11.7 points) as he attacked the basket more frequently and did not just settle for 3-pointers (shot 36.3 percent).

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Unless he receives assurances that he'd garner a bigger payday, Green declining to test the market would not be a surprise, despite last month telling the Express-News that signing a long-term deal would be taken into consideration.

"I think longevity is the key for must guys especially for guys that are getting older," said Green. "But there is a lot of options that come into play and (a long-term deal) has crossed my mind."

Though playing out the final year with no security beyond next season was something Green contemplated, passing up on $10 million next season, in what is expected to be a tight market this summer, is a risk as well.

League sources told the Express-News that Green might not attract another $10 million per year deal if he opts out but something in the $5-8 million range, with most teams likely offering the mid-level exception (projected at roughly $8.6 million for non-taxpaying teams; approximately $5 million for taxpaying teams).

Question is: Will the Spurs stick with Green once he makes it official and opts into the final year of agreement?

It is well-known Green was on the trading block last summer, but the Spurs could not find a deal enticing enough to pull the trigger. Green did reward the Spurs, though. He finished third on the team in steals (70), fourth in blocks (57) and named to the 2016-17 All-NBA Defensive Second Team.

Last season, Green finished second on the Spurs with 80 blocks, eight shy of a career-high, and the second time he's recorded 80-plus blocks in a season. His season-high (six blocks) came March 15 in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

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"He's a pretty special guy," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich when discussing Green's ability to time blocks. "People don't notice him a whole lot, I guess. But maybe they're beginning to (because the media) is asking the questions, so I guess that means somebody has noticed."

If something does change and Green elects to become an unrestricted free agent before his June 29th deadline to notify the team, the Spurs hold his Bird Rights, meaning the team could exceed the salary cap to re-sign Green to a long-term deal.

Green signed a four-year, $40 million deal to re-sign with the team in 2015.

Earlier this week, forward Rudy Gay took another route; declining the final year of his contract with the Spurs and will become an unrestricted free agent.

With Gay out, and Green likely in, forward Joffrey Lauvergne ($1.6 million player option) is the final player that will need to decide on his future with the Spurs in the coming days.