It’s official: Tony Parker is the latest tentpole of the San Antonio Spurs to leave the franchise. Rumors had popped up that the veteran point guard was getting looks from a few teams as an unrestricted free agent, with Charlotte and Denver among the squads interested in acquiring his services. On Friday afternoon, word dropped that Parker will leave the Spurs to join the Hornets. The news was broken by Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports and confirmed by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Wojnarowski included the terms of the deal, which will keep Parker in Charlotte for two years. Tony Parker has agreed to sign with Charlotte, league sources tell Yahoo. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2018 Tony Parker has agreed to a two-year, $10M deal with Charlotte, league source tells ESPN — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2018 The move makes sense, as the Hornets could use a point guard behind Kemba Walker and the team’s new head coach, James Borrego, was an assistant in San Antonio. Plus Parker’s countryman Nic Batum confirmed the news on social media. Number 9, I see you soon in Buzz City my big bro… ??x?? — Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) July 6, 2018 According to Wojnarowski, Parker let Gregg Popovich know that he will leave the only organization he’s played for in his NBA career. Source: Parker called Gregg Popovich in the last hour to inform him of decision to accept Charlotte offer. Spurs wanted Parker back, but Parker will take on a significant role with Hornets behind Kemba Walker. https://t.co/qjNzJqN2v0 — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2018 Parker joined the Spurs in 2001 and turned into one of the premier point guards in basketball, as he was a member of four championship squads in San Antonio. He also was an All-NBA Second Team selection three times and added a Third-Team nod to his resume, too, along with a Finals MVP in 2007. Make no mistake about it: Watching Parker suit up for a team other than the Spurs is going to be weird. Still, this is a solid signing by the Hornets, even if it’ll take some getting used to for everyone who has spent the last 17 years being captivated by the best basketball player France has ever produced.<doc-sep>SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs have lost franchise icon Tony Parker to the Charlotte Hornets. The future hall of fame point guard has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with Hornets, league sources confirmed. The Hornets are coached by former Spurs assistant James Borrego. SUBSCRIBERS: Iconic Spurs point guard headed to Charlotte In 17 seasons with the Spurs, Parker averaged 15.8 points and 5.7 assists while helping the franchise win four of its five NBA titles, including the 2007 championship when he was named Finals MVP after leading a sweep of LeBron James and Cleveland. A six-time All-Star, Parker becomes the second member of the Spurs' vaunted "Big Three" to leave the club after Tim Duncan retired following the 2015-16 season. "Tough decision. Tough three days. Tough communicating it all to Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich)," Parker told ESPN's The Undefeated. "But I had to move on. It was a very emotional conversation with Pop and (Spurs general manager) R.C. Buford. I will always love San Antonio. I will always be a Spur. My family and my house are in San Antonio. But I'm excited to play for my idol in M.J. (Hornets owner Michael Jordan), coach J.B., who I played for in San Antonio, and with my little brother, Nicolas Batum." In a statement released through the Spurs media relations department, coach Gregg Popovich said it's "difficult to put into words how important" Parker has been to the franchise over the past two decades. SPURS INSIDER: Current and former Spurs talk about what it's like to play for Pop "From his first game in 2001 at age 19, TP has impressed and inspired us - day-after-day, game-after-game, season-after-season - with his passion, dedication and desire," Popovich said. "We are grateful to Tony for 17 years of truly amazing memories. While the four championships, six All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections highlight his resume, the biggest joy for me has been to have the pleasure of watching TP grow up before our eyes. All of us in the Spurs organization will miss having Tony in our program and wish him and his family the best as he continues his remarkable career in Charlotte." Parker moved to the bench in January after Popovich handed his starting role to Dejounte Murray. READ ALSO: ESPN'S Michelle Beadle rakes Kawhi Leonard in emotional rant "Tony understands what is best for a basketball team," Popovich said. "He's a character guy. He knows at this stage of his career being a mentor is really important. And he still going to be an important part of what we do. But Dejounte is a young talent and we need to find out exactly what we have there, so it's time." Parker ranks as the Spurs' career leader in assists with 6,829. He was also second in games played (1,198), second in minutes (37,276), fourth in points (18,943) and fifth in steals (1,032).<doc-sep>Kawhi Leonard might not be the only one of San Antonio’s franchise greats that could leave the Spurs this offseason. Tony Parker has not re-signed yet and several teams are reportedly interested in his services, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. PtR’s latest T-shirt features Lonnie Walker IV, and it’s as unique as he is. Parker, who became an unrestricted free agent this summer, lost his starting point guard position as the Spurs decided to make way for the development of Dejounte Murray. It was believed he could sign a smaller contract and complete his career in San Antonio as a backup. But with a logjam in the guard positions paired with Parker’s desire to play another three seasons despite his mileage and limitations, it’s unclear whether the Spurs will re-sign the four-time NBA Champion. Luckily for Parker, he won’t lack suitors if he decides to continue his career elsewhere. Wojnarowski reported that the Charlotte Hornets, who recently signed former Spurs assistant coach James Borrego as their head coach, are one of the many teams interested in adding Parker to their roster. The Hornets have both the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions at their disposal and could be willing to offer the Frenchman a better contract than the veteran minimum. The Spurs have Parker’s Bird rights and could also offer more than the minimum, but might not be willing to do that. The future Hall-of-Famer struggled last season after returning from a ruptured left quadriceps tendon. He could still bring valuable experience and a steady hand off the bench, but with Murray set to start at point guard and combo guards Patty Mills and Derrick White potentially getting time at the position, there might not be many minutes for Parker in San Antonio. Will the Spurs’ longest-tenured vet clean out his locker and take his talents elsewhere next season? The way this offseason is shaping up, anything is possible.<doc-sep>
Darren Abate/Associated Press The San Antonio Spurs reportedly have interest in re-signing veteran point guard Tony Parker, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright. Wright noted that the Spurs would like Parker back in a mentorship role "if the numbers work for both sides." He also reported that Parker's camp is "shopping for a deal," which means a return to San Antonio isn't guaranteed. Parker has spent his entire 17-year NBA career with the Spurs, but he made it clear in May that he is far from done. Per Wright (h/t ABC News), Parker said he wants to play 20 seasons in the NBA even if it means leaving San Antonio: "It is not yet sure that I'll stay with the Spurs. I am open to all proposals. I would like to make my entire career in San Antonio. The sport remains a business, and we will have to make choices. I have been 17 years with the Spurs. I would always be nostalgic, but it's not the end of the world if I change my club. I say two or three years more [I can play if] I can go somewhere else, I'm 50-50. I do not see myself outside of basketball yet. I want to stay three more years to do the 20 seasons." The 36-year-old Frenchman is coming off his worst NBA season from a production standpoint, as he averaged 7.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 55 games in 2017-18 while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 27.0 percent from long range. Parker made just 21 starts last season, which was by far the lowest mark of his career. Video Play Button Videos you might like He primarily came off the bench and gave way to Dejounte Murray, who made strides in his second NBA season and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Parker is no longer a star-caliber player, and injuries have been an issue in recent years, but there would still be a great deal of value in re-signing him for the Spurs. He is a six-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP, which makes him the ideal mentor for young players such as Murray and 2018 first-round pick Lonnie Walker. Also, if the Spurs end up trading Kawhi Leonard and bringing in additional young talent, Parker could be key in showing them the "Spurs way" and helping maintain a winning culture.