Oberto Opting Out?

There is rumor floating around that Oberto is declining his player option and becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Anyone heard of this?

Oberto opted out last summer and re-signed a three year deal with the Spurs. Wherever you heard this from was either an old source or simply uninformed.

Spurs re-sign Oberto to three-year deal

Web Posted: 07/19/2007 09:01 AM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

The Spurs re-signed center Fabricio Oberto on Wednesday to a three-year, $10.5 million contract, locking up all 12 members of their championship playoff roster from last season.
Oberto, 32, started 33 games last season and averaged 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds. He regained the starting job from Francisco Elson midway through the second round of the playoffs and was especially effective in the Western Conference finals when he averaged 10.2 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 70 percent.

Oberto opted out of the final season of the three-year, $7.5 million contract he signed in July 2005 to become a free agent, but made it clear he wanted to return to the Spurs. The Spurs rewarded him with another multiyear deal, though the final season isn't fully guaranteed.

Having already re-signed Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner, the Spurs accomplished their goal of keeping last season's playoff roster intact.

They currently have 14 players under contract, but James White could be waived and guard Vassilis Spanoulis, acquired in last week's trade with Houston, may ask for his own release so he can play in Europe next season.

The Spurs have had talks with Portland free-agent swingman Ime Udoka, whose agent, Eric Cowan, said he is waiting to hear from Udoka about his decision.


Udoka turns 30 next month and is listed at 6-foot-5, so he doesn't perfectly fit the mold of the young, long, athletic small forward the Spurs have sought in recent seasons. But last season for the Trail Blazers, Udoka proved to be a rugged defender and dependable 3-point shooter, two skills the Spurs value highly.

Udoka started 75 games last season and averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 28.6 minutes. Prior to last season, he had only 12 games of NBA experience, including eight with the New York Knicks.

Tiago Splitter, the Spurs' recent first-round draft pick, will be in town this week to meet with team officials. Splitter will return to Spain to play for Tau Ceramica for one more season, after which the Spurs hope to sign him.


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jludden@express-news.net