Fabricio Oberto, the starting center for the NBA champion Spurs, has declined a player option on his contract and will become a restricted free agent.

Oberto had until midnight Sunday to decide whether to pick up his option for $2.5 million and he did not make his decision until the final hours.

"I don't know how this changes things at all for us," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "We have every hope that he'll continue to be a part of our team."