Tim Duncan apparently won't be around for another challenge to the Golden State Warriors' Western Conference supremacy.
The Spurs legend is thought to be leaning toward retirement after 19 NBA seasons, The Vertical reports, with an announcement expected soon. San Antonio won't waste any time filling the hole in the middle, though, with Pau Gasol agreeing to a two-year, $30 million deal with the Spurs according to a report from the same outlet.
The 40-year-old Duncan has spent his entire career in San Antonio and recently exercised his $5.6 million player option for next season. But that was a procedural move, not an indicator of his plans for 2016-17.
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Duncan is coming off a season in which he posted the worst numbers of his career as he struggled with leg problems, averaging 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 61 regular-season games while shooting just 48.8 percent from the floor. Still, the five-time NBA champion's legacy as a franchise icon and one of the game's most revered players is secure if this is indeed the end. Only Kobe Bryant spent more time with a single team in the league's history.
In Gasol, the Spurs would get another NBA presence who has a few more miles remaining and is performing at a higher level. The 15-year NBA veteran turns 36 on Wednesday and is coming off a season in which he averaged 16.5 points and 11 rebounds for the Chicago Bulls.
