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Source: Duncan will not opt out

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

Tim Duncan is not expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, and the Spurs don’t plan to offer him an extension before the collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday, according to a source familiar with talks between the team and the franchise icon.

As such, Duncan will play out the final year of his existing deal, during which he is scheduled to earn $21.2 million, and remains on track to become a free agent after the 2011-12 campaign.

Duncan also faces a Thursday deadline to exercise an early-termination option. His apparent decision not to do so is not surprising in light of the league’s unsure labor climate.

With a contentious fight broiling between the NBA’s owners and players’ union this summer, and with so much uncertainty still surrounding the next CBA, Duncan has apparently determined it is in his best interest to stand pat on what, at age 35, is likely to be his last high-dollar payday.

Should Duncan choose to continue playing after next season, the Spurs would prefer to re-sign him under the new set of salary rules, which are generally expected to be more favorable to small-market clubs.

There had been some speculation Duncan might decide to trigger his early-termination option and renegotiate his contract, in a manner that might give the Spurs payroll flexibility to better fortify their roster next season.

Duncan took a similar approach in signing a four-year extension before the 2007-08 season, accepting less than maximum money and leaving the Spurs room to eventually add Richard Jefferson in the summer of 2009.

A 13-time All-Star, two-time league MVP and three-time Finals MVP, Duncan logged career lows last season in scoring (13.4 points per game), rebounding (8.9 per game) and minutes (28.4 per game).

Though more of a statistical bit player than he was in his prime, Duncan in his 14th NBA season remained the central figure for the Spurs, both on the court and in the locker room.

He’s not going to look like rookie Tim Duncan,” coach Gregg Popovich said in an interview conducted during the season. “Nobody is going to look like they did 14 years ago. He’s still so steady. He’s still our rock out there.”

Spurs No. 2 bad moment: Grizzlies stun Spurs in Game 1 with first playoff victory in team history

Playing without Manu Ginobili for the first game of the playoffs was going to be a challenge for the Spurs.

And that was even before Zach Randolph took the series over in that history-making game for the Memphis franchise.

The Grizzlies snapped a 12-game playoff losing streak as they notched the first playoff victory in franchise history with a stunning 101-98 victory over the Spurs in Game 1 on April 17.

Ginobili returned for the next game, but the Grizzlies snatched homecourt advantage from the opening game.

The Spurs were never able to overcome that deficit.

No. 2: Spurs miss Manu as Grizzlies steal Game 1.

When: April 17, 2011

Where: ATT Center, San Antonio

What happened: Playing without Ginobili, the Spurs stumbled in a Game 1 loss to Memphis, a franchise that had never won a playoff game in their previous three series in a 101-98 loss. The Spurs jumped to a 10-point lead in the third quarter and had a 96-94 lead with 1:28 left on Matt Bonner’s three. But Shane Battier hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 23.9 seconds left as Randolph notched 25 points and 14 rebounds to lead the upset.

What was said, Part I: ”It’s nice from an annoyance perspective to have it out of the way, because I don’t have to answer questions about being 0 and 13,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins on the first playoff victory in franchise history.

What was said, Part II: ”I was wide open,” Spurs forward Richard Jefferson, on his missed game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

What was said, Part III: “When you’re on the road, down two, may as well go for the 3,” Battier, describing his clutch 3-point shot to the Associated Press.

What was said, Part IV: ”You know damned well he’s not happy with me. And you know damned well he wants to be on that court. But I made my decision,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, explaining Ginobili’s reaction to not playing in Game 1.

GAME NOTES: Ginobili briefly worked out before the game, but was informed he would not play by Popovich shortly before the tip-off. Despite his absence, the Spurs led for much of the game before Memphis’ late rally. Battier was the only player to experience each of Memphis’ previous playoff games. His three put the Grizzlies ahead 99-98 on a 3-pointer with 23.9 seconds left. Tony Allen then added two clinching free throws and Jefferson missed a wide-open game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. Randolph (25 points, 14 rebounds) and Marc Gasol (24 points, nine rebounds) dominated the Spurs inside. The Spurs stormed back on a late 11-2 charge to take the lead that included two 3-pointers by Bonner. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 20 points, but hit only 4-for-16 from the field as the Spurs hit 40 percent from the field for the game. The Spurs were limited to 33 percent shooting in the fourth quarter. The game was physical as the Spurs shot 47 foul shots and the Grizzlies had 33. Memphis overcame 16 turnovers as they shot 55 percent from the field. Tim Duncan had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Battier celebrated the birth of his daughter, Eloise Susan Battier, who was born in Houston shortly after the game.

Previous bad memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse against Dallas helps snap Spurs’ .

No. 8: : Spurs blown out by Orlando by 22.

No. 7: Lowly Clips to Spurs.

No. 6: Heat’sfrom 30-point loss 10 days earlier.

No. 5: Blowout loss to Lakers .

No. 4: Duncan’s ankle injury.

No.3: Manu injures elbow in.

Previous good memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: boosts comeback victory over Thunder.

No. 8: leads overtime victory over Memphis.

No. 7:boosts Spurs past Warriors.

No. 6: TD becomesin one game.

No. 5:with record 3-point binge.

No. 4: Pop passes Auerbach on.

No. 3: McDyess’ tip over Lakers.

Enes Kanter: ‘I am the best player in this draft’

Despite not playing at Kentucky last season after an NCAA rules violation, Turkish center Enes Kanter apparently isn’t lacking in confidence that he can make it big in the NBA (Hat tip to Pro Basketball Talk.com)

Kanter was set to play for the Wildcats last season before the NCAA declared him permanently ineligible as a collegiate athlete because he received approximately $33,000 from the Turkish professional team Fenerbahce Ulker in excess benefits.

“I believe if I could have played [at Kentucky], I would go with the No. 1 pick,” Kanter said in . “I believe I am the best player in this draft…”

That lack of playing experience last season has made Kanter the mystery player of this draft. He’s only 19 and is considered physically ready at 6-feet-11 and 260 pounds. Most mock drafts have him as one of the top five picks of the draft.

Kanter said that not playing last season will not hurt his value to an NBA team.

“I’m not worried about anything,” he said. “Even if I could have played, I would have just played like, 22-24 games, because we’d have won many games by 30. I don’t think I missed anything.”

After being ruled ineligible, Kanter remained around Coach John Calipari’s program as a student assistant. The Wildcats dropped a 56-55 loss to eventual national champion Connecticut in the national semifinals.

That disappointing defeat has convinced Kanter that his presence would have changed how his team finished.

“We would have won the national title,” he said during one point of Wednesday’s interview.

A reporter followed up. “Easily?”

“Yes,” was Kanter’s immediate response.

He’s not lacking in motivation or ego, which only adds to his appeal for many teams with top draft picks in tomorrow’s lottery as the most NBA-ready center prospect in the draft.