Matt Bonner is still a free agent with the start of the San Antonio Spurs training camp only days away and the veteran big man is reportedly keen on "fighting" for his spot in the team's roster for the upcoming season.
ESPN reported that the 36-year-old, 12-year veteran is "still hoping to receive a contract offer from a team" with the Spurs training camp set to open next week.
"I'm going to fight to get into the league," said Bonner, as per the Concord Monitor. "I'm going to fight to play one more year."
The former Florida Gators standout was selected 45th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2003 but was then traded to the Toronto Raptors where he spent his first two seasons in the league. He blossomed, though, under the guidance of Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, when the Raptors traded him to San Antonio along with Eric Williams and a second round pick for Rasho Nesterovic and cash considerations back in June 2006.
Bonner had spent the last decade playing for the Spurs mainly coming off the bench as an outside shooting big man, winning two championships in the process. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound center/forward is considered as one of the best three-point shooters in the league for his size, shooting a 41.4 percent clip from beyond the arc for his career.
The Spurs have not offered him anything to join them next season and so his agent is now said to be reaching out to other teams who might be interested in giving him a deal.
"There's been interest, but nothing concrete," Bonner said. "A lot of teams are like, 'We like Matt, we just don't have a roster space right now, but if anything changes, he's in the mix.' There's a long way to go until opening night, so I'm remaining optimistic."
And while waiting for a call to receive, the two-time NBA champion is reportedly working out with his strength and conditioning coach Tony Mure, according to the report.
He was then asked if he is considering a stint in Europe in case he does not receive a playing contract in the NBA in the upcoming season.
"Wow, you're asking tough questions. That's one of those where I would cross that bridge when I came to it," he answered.
