Spurs' Manu Ginobili: Declines 2016-17 player option

Ginobili has declined his $2.9 million player option for 2016-17, and will enter free agency, Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports reports.

Analysis:

With the league's salary cap raising every season, players have been following the "LeBron James" model of signing to one-year deals in order to re-negotiate their salaries for the highest possible amount every season. This should probably be no different with Ginobili. The 38-year-old just finished his 14th season with the Spurs - the only team he has ever played for in the NBA - with averages of 9.6 points, 3.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 20 minutes per game during the 2015-16 season. Without any hints of retirement (which is also possible), it is likely that Ginobili will re-sign with the Spurs for the 2016-17 season.