The San Antonio Spurs have renounced the rights to restricted free agent forward Jonathon Simmons, making him an unrestricted free agent, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. The team is still willing to negotiate with Simmons as an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Having signed Rudy Gay to a two-year deal, the Spurs will need the utmost flexibility in order to make any further changes to the roster, knowing full well that Simmons is bound to command a hefty sum for his services after two seasons with the organization.
Simmons' numbers don't jump out with averages of 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game through 17.8 minutes on the floor, but the Houston native showed his mettle replacing Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs after he went down with an ankle injury, and scoring in double digits in nine of his last 10 postseason games.
A good, lengthy defender with a reliable perimeter game, Simmons should be among the top free agents at the small forward position, commanding plenty of attention for those teams still having a flexible salary cap situation to sign players.
Simmons averaged 15.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game in a four-game playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, shooting 38.5 percent from deep in 27.8 minutes per outing — a stat line much similar to what teams can expect from the 6-foot-6 swingman if given enough run.
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