Jazz news: Rudy Gay agrees to 2-year, $12.1 million deal with Utah

Rudy Gay has agreed to a two-year, $12.1 million deal with the Utah Jazz, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Rudy Gay has agreed to a two-year, $12.1 million deal with the Utah Jazz in free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. The second year of deal is a player option. This deal appears to be the Jazz using their taxpayer mid-level exception.

Gay spent the last four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. The 34-year-old had a solid 2020-21 campaign as a bench player for the Spurs, averaging 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game while shooting 42.0% from the field and 38.1% from 3-point range.

The forward is a nice little addition to Utah's bench after the franchise brought back Mike Conley on the first day of free agency. Gay can play either forward spot and is an upgrade over Georges Niang, even in his advanced age.

There had been some rumors about Gay joining the Los Angeles Lakers, but instead he has agreed to a deal with another Western Conference contender. The Jazz finished with the best record in the NBA this past season, only to fall to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs.

With Gay apparently using this exception, Utah will have minimum contracts to offer to fill out the roster in free agency. The Jazz could also look to make more trades after dealing away Derrick Favors earlier in the offseason.