Gay signs for less to join Spurs

SAN ANTONIO » Rudy Gay had 14 million reasons to remain in Sacramento this coming season.

He also had a few compelling ones to leave. Here is one: “The main thing is he wanted the opportunity to play for a winner,” Gay’s agent, Roger Montgomery said.

Gay — the former UConn star — opted out of $14 million this summer in order to escape the dysfunction of the Kings.

It was a bold move for a player less than six months removed from being carried off the Golden1 Center floor with a torn left Achilles tendon.

Gay found a soft landing in San Antonio, where the day-to-day stability is diametrically opposed to the annual circus show that has been Sacramento.

The 30-year-old small forward became the first free-agent signing of the offseason for the Spurs on Thursday, the opening salvo of a slow and steady summer that has prioritized patience over the heedless chasing of AllStars.

That part worked out for Gay, who has played in only one playoff series in 13 NBA seasons with Memphis, Toronto and Sacramento. The Spurs, by contrast, own a 20-season streak of postseason appearances.

“The Spurs have a tradition of being in a winning organization,” Montgomery said. “He’s excited to be a part of that.”

From a financial standpoint, the gamble of skipping Sacramento did not pay off quite as much for Gay.

After last summer’s league-wide spend-a-thon, the market has been cooler this offseason.

The two-year, $17 million deal Gay signed Thursday will include nearly a 40 percent pay cut from what he could have earned this season with the Kings.

Gay also met with the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City during the free agency process. He also generated interest from Miami and Golden State.

None of those teams could or would offer the same deal the Spurs did.

Both sides are hopeful about the pairing.

Gay’s offensive credentials are unquestioned.

He has averaged 18.4 points during his career, and is only two seasons removed from posting a career-best 21.1 points per game for the Kings.

Now, Gay must prove his surgically repaired body is ready for the rigors of an 82-game season.

Gay appeared in only 30 games last season and was injured in a Jan. 18 loss to Indiana.