SAN ANTONIO — According to a report from Spotrac's Keith Smith, the San Antonio Spurs have made qualifying offers to Sandro Mamukelashvili and David Duke Jr., making them restricted free agents.
San Antonio now has the right to match any offers other teams may make to them.
Mamu averaged 11.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. In a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on April 9, Mamukelashvili snatched a career-high 16 rebounds to go with 11 points in the final eight games last season.
His play to close the season made coach Gregg Popovich consider whether the team should bring him back next season.
“We definitely have to have that discussion,” said Popovich. “I’ve said it before: He really knows how to play.”
Mamukelashvili was initially signed by the Spurs on March 3, 2023. The team then re-signed him to a one-year, $2 million deal that expires soon.
However, he made his case for the Spurs to think hard about re-signing him again after the end of the 2023-24 season.
He recorded a career-high in several statistical categories, including points per game (4.1), rebounds (3.2), assists (1.1), and field goal percentage (47%).
Mamu does want to return to San Antonio and contribute to the Spurs' rebuild.
"I’m very happy to be there. I’m humbled," he said. "I’m honored for sure to be around great teammates and learn from them. We’ll see what happens but I’m really excited to be a part of the young guys who are in the NBA."
"Hopefully, I can keep getting better and getting more playing time," Sandro said.
There should not be any significant roadblock for Mamu to stay a Spur.
His price tag would not be huge; he has built chemistry with the young roster, and the Spurs can afford to keep him, considering how well the team is under the salary cap.
Duke Jr. played four games for the Spurs last season averaging 6.5 points and was 50% from the three-point line.
In 34 games with the Austin Spurs, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 37.7% from three-point line.
The NBA free agency period begins June 30th at 5 p.m. CT.
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