Spurs Off-Season

[G R E Y]

Pop will be doing some traveling and coaching abroad this summer. So great to see him getting back into it, participating in BWB, and helping others in the process.

Popovich's summer plans include trip to Serbia

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's summer plans include a trip to his ancestral homeland.

Popovich will head the list of coaches participating in the 17th edition of Basketball Without Borders Europe on Aug. 15-18 at the Zarkovo Sports Hall in Belgrade, the NBA, the International Basketball Federation and the Basketball Federation of Serbia announced Thursday.

The event marks the first time the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach will be held in Serbia.

BWB Europe 2018 will feature the top male and female players ages 17 and under from throughout Europe. NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches, including Popovich, will tutor them.

Other NBA coaches who will work with Popovich include Indiana assistant Popeye Jones and Brooklyn assistant Jacque Vaughn, a former Spurs player and assistant....

Popovich's trip to Europe will come after he oversees the USA Basketball training camp July 25-27 in Las Vegas.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Popovich-s-summer-plans-include-trip-to-Serbia-13051280.php


BJELICA, BOGDANOVIC, HARRIS, JOKIC, KAMINSKY, JOIN DIVAC, STOJAKOVIC, JONES, POPOVICH AND VAUGHN FOR FIRST BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS CAMP IN SERBIA
NBA, FIBA and Serbian Basketball Federation to Host 17th edition of #BWBEurope

“Hosting Basketball Without Borders in Belgrade is symbolic for the NBA since the first BWB camp brought together 50 young men from Eastern Europe more than 15 years ago,” said NBA Senior Vice President, International Basketball Operations, Kim Bohuny. “The region has a deep connection to and history with the sport of basketball, and the level of talent in the region and throughout Europe is at an all-time high. We look forward to providing the top young players on the continent with an opportunity to learn from and compete against one another.”

BWB Europe 2018 will feature a number of current and former NBA players including Nemanja Bjelica (Minnesota Timberwolves, Serbia); Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings, Serbia); Gary Harris (Denver Nuggets, USA); Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets, Serbia) and Frank Kaminsky (Charlotte Hornets, USA/Serbia). Vlade Divac (Sacramento Kings, Serbia) and Peja Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings, Serbia) who both took part in the inaugural 2001 BWB Europe camp will also attend, with additional players, former players to be announced.

NBA Coaches Popeye Jones (Indiana Pacers, USA); Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs, USA) and Jacque Vaughn (Brooklyn Nets, USA) will serve as BWB Europe coaches with additional coaches and coaching staff to be announced. Marin Sedlacek (Philadelphia 76ers, Serbia) and Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches) will serve as camp directors.

BWB Europe 2018 will also include NBA Cares community outreach efforts with youth in Belgrade, including packing and delivering care packages to young people dealing with illnesses.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.

BWB has reached more than 3,200 participants from 127 countries and territories since 2001, with more than 55 former campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents. A record 24 former BWB campers were on opening-night rosters for the 2017-18 season, including Milos Teodosic (LA Clippers; Serbia; BWB Europe 2001).

The NBA and FIBA have staged 54 BWB camps in 34 cities across 27 countries on six continents. More than 260 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 200 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world.

Follow BWB using the hashtag #BWBEurope on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BWB Asia 2018 was held in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), India from May 30 – June 2. BWB Africa 2018 will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from Aug. 1 – 4.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/bjelica-bogdanovic-harris-jokic-kaminsky-join-divac-stojakovic-jones-popovich-and-vaughn-first

[Ballings7]

Would like to see the Spurs go after one of Quincy Acy or Dante Cunningham... preferably Acy...

Floor spacing
Good cutters with size
Defer and move the ball
Versatile defensively with length, strength, and agility
Small-ball 4s and 5s, and can play some three
Toughness and some edge

Need some size and toughness in the front-court. Guards and wings are pretty much all set, sans Manu (who'll likely come back I feel due to Belinelli, Pop, and Murray).

[G R E Y]

While we were sleeping, the FO was working, and it looks as if we've retained Davis, as per RealGM Wiretap. You have to think for this annual and term he gets a bigger, more consistent role:

Davis Bertans agreed to a deal to return to the Spurs.
The Latvian forward, who was restricted free agent, will sign a four-year, $20 million contract with the Spurs, a source told Sportando.
Bertans averaged 5.9 points and 2 rebounds per game in 77 games played this past season with the Spurs.

https://sportando.basketball/en/usa/nba/280956/spurs-to-sign-davis-bertans-to-a-four-year-dollars20-million-contract.html

Good that we're shoring up the forward position, and at a reasonable contract. Looks like, team-wide, we're going more athletic and building up shooting at multiple positions. Defense will always be a foundation throughout.

The 6-foot-10 Latvian hit 37.3 percent from 3-point range (94 of 252) after shooting 39.9 from long range (69 of 173) as a rookie.

Bertans received praise often from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich last season for the strides he made defensively.

"It's not his strong point, but it's not for lack of effort," Popovich said last February. "He's getting better and better at it, figuring out how to do work early and how to position himself better so he doesn't get into those situations where he is behind the power curve. But he's getting better and better at it and becoming more confident."

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-Bertans-reportedly-agree-on-new-deal-13059555.php

Congratulations to all, and welcome back, Davis!

[UDRIH14]

i dunno what the front office is doing,
-are they keeping pieces to build around kawhi since they be holding onto him for the season or keep the pieces to field a team after kawhi trade that fits open holes on the roster?
-shouldnt they be planning for next year FA market? why they giving out loyalty contracts?

[Jstock12]

i dunno what the front office is doing,
-are they keeping pieces to build around kawhi since they be holding onto him for the season or keep the pieces to field a team after kawhi trade that fits open holes on the roster?
-shouldnt they be planning for next year FA market? why they giving out loyalty contracts?

Who do you plan to surround those big name FAs with?

[Ballings7]

Glad we re-signed Bertans. Guy can shoot and block shots, and isn't afraid. 5 mill is solid for him.

He's still young and we needed him to make some more shots against GS, but he's still young in the NBA and will get better.

I've always liked his scrappiness defensively. Blocks shots out of nowhere and has good length.

I'd like to see him work on his ball-handling some, and get a bit more mass.. but I think he'll get better as time goes on and be a good role-player.

[G R E Y]

Well this is awkward. Turns out it's not a done deal as of now with Bertans, though there's strong interest. I'd blame RealGM for reporting it, but then I ran with it, too, so serves me right. This is what you get for not waiting on "a source" to be verified. Here's hoping we get a signed Bertans soon:

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Spurs working to hammer out a deal with Bertans

Citing an anonymous source, the international basketball website Sportando reported Monday that Bertans has agreed to terms with the Spurs on a four-year, $20 million deal.

The report, though, is premature, a league source, as well as a spokesperson for Bertans’ agent, said.

While it’s true the Spurs have shown heavy interest in retaining Bertans and are working toward hammering out a deal, no agreement has been reached, the league source said.

A spokesperson for Bertans’ agent, Happy Walters, agreed, saying of the report, “It’s not true.”

The Spurs like Bertans because he can stretch the floor on offense with his shooting range while providing length on the defensive end. With Anderson gone and Kawhi Leonard’s future with the team in doubt, Bertans could receive an expanded role, especially if he were to continue to make strides defensively.

https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Spurs-working-to-hammer-out-a-deal-with-Bertans-13061225.php?utm_campaign=twitter-premium&utm_source=CMS%20Sharing%20Button&utm_medium=social

[G R E Y]

Looks like we're in the process of taking care of our RFAs, with Bryn re-signing. Somewhere out there gump is drinking :

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Hopefully we get a Davis returning confirmation soon, too.

Welcome back, Bryn!

EDIT: No annual terms reported yet. In the meantime, an article detailing how we got here:

Logging 80 regular-season games last season after playing in just 36 as a rookie proved a challenge for Forbes.... Despite his struggles adapting to the physical and mental grind of the NBA’s punishing 82-game season, Forbes showed the Spurs enough for them to give him a two-year deal, a league source said. Forbes, who will turn 25 on July 23, started last season strong before tailing off. He averaged 6.9 points and 1.0 assists while shooting a team-best 39.0 percent from 3-point range (89 of 228).... The Michigan State product averaged 2.6 points in 36 games as a rookie after joining the Spurs as an undrafted free agent.

Forbes flashed his potential several times last season, including hitting a late 3-pointer in Phoenix to give the Spurs a 104-101 win over the Suns and scoring a season-high 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range in a 15-point win over Sacramento in January. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likes the confidence Forbes has in his shot, comparing him last season before one game to Golden State’s Stephen Curry.

“He’s never seen a shot he didn’t like,” Popovich said of Forbes. “That’s a good quality when you can shoot the ball well.”

The agreements give the Spurs essentially 13 players with guaranteed contracts. Add in guard Brandon Paul, who has a non-guaranteed deal until Aug. 1, and the number rises to 14. Guard Darrun Hilliard, who was on a two-way deal last season, is their lone remaining restricted free agent, although the Spurs can rescind his qualifying offer should they want to open a spot for a non-guaranteed player to attempt to make the roster.

NBA teams can carry up to 20 players in the offseason but are limited to 15 in the regular season, plus a pair of two-way players who would spend most of their time in the G League.

https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Forbes-Spurs-reach-agreement-on-two-year-deal-13064137.php

[G R E Y]

Taking care of business, Davis is back. Lots of one and two year deals for us:

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[G R E Y]

Belinelli hopes to rekindle magic in second stint with Spurs

Not a day goes by that Marco Belinelli doesn’t think about “The Beautiful Game” the Spurs unleashed to destroy LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals. The tattoo of the Larry O’Brien trophy gracing his left bicep helps keep memories of that five-game triumph fresh.“The basketball we played was amazing,” Belinelli said. “There was no selfishness, everybody moving the ball."

The 32-year-old sharpshooting guard hopes to rekindle some of the magic of that championship season in his second stint with the Spurs. He agreed to terms on a two-year, $12 million deal with the club at the start of free agency. “When I heard about this opportunity, I didn’t have to think twice about it,” Belinelli said Tuesday. “I still have a great relationship with Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) and (assistant) Ettore (Messina). It will be a great fit, a great situation. I really am excited about it. I can’t wait to play with LaMarcus (Aldridge).”

Speaking via phone from his home in Bologna, Italy, Belinelli said he was amazed at how quickly a deal was brokered after the Spurs contacted his agent about their interest. “I spoke with (general manager) R.C. (Buford) and then Pop, and then my agent woke me up at 5 o’clock in the morning to tell me we had a deal,” Belinelli said.

In 28 regular-season games with the 76ers, he averaged 13.6 points and shot 38.5 percent from long range. He scored in double figures in all but four games and made at least one 3-pointer 26 times. In 10 playoff games for Philadelphia, Belinelli averaged nearly 14 points while shooting 35 percent from distance. He promises more of the same for the Spurs. “I am going to try to have a good role, coming off the bench, making big shots, helping create shots for others, moving without the ball,” he said.

Belinelli did all of that during his first stint with the Spurs, averaging 10.4 points and shooting 40.5 percent from downtown over two seasons from 2013-15. “He’s a very good basketball player, it’s not just his shooting,” Popovich said of Belinelli in 2015 after he left the Spurs to join Sacramento. “He understands the game very well.”

Another highlight of his first two seasons with the Spurs was the chemistry he had with Manu Ginobili.“We had a great time,” Ginobili said of playing with Belinelli in the NBA. “We had great chemistry playing together. I’ve known him since he was 15, 16. We were on the court a lot together and we looked for each other. We enjoyed playing together.”

Not surprisingly, Ginobili was one of the first people to text Belinelli after he agreed to terms with the Spurs.

“He was really happy about it,” Belinelli said.

https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Belinelli-hopes-to-rekindle-magic-in-second-stint-13063848.php

[UDRIH14]

front office finds money to keep bertans and forbes, yet cant find 5m for the egoistic parker

[G R E Y]

It's officially official! Part I:

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The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Davis Bertans. Per club policy, details of the contract were not announced.

Bertans appeared in 77 games with the Spurs last season, averaging 5.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting .440 (161-366) from the field, .373 (94-252) from beyond the arc and .816 (40-49) from the charity stripe. Bertans ranked second on the team in three-point percentage and third in three-point field goals made. His 163 career triples rank second in franchise history behind only Gary Neal for most three-pointers by a Spur in his first two seasons.

Having recently completed his second NBA season, both with the Silver and Black, Bertans holds career averages of 5.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.2 minutes while shooting .440 from floor, .384 from three-point range and .819 from the free throw line. The 6-10 forward was initially selected in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft (42nd overall) by Indiana before San Antonio acquired his rights on draft night.

Prior to his NBA career, the Latvian native spent two seasons with Union Olimpia in Slovenia (2009-11) after playing on a variety of levels in Latvia. He also played three seasons with BC Partizan Belgrade (2011-14) in the Serbian League and two seasons with Laboral Kutxa (2014-16) in the First Division of the Spanish League. Bertans has been part of the Latvian National Team since 2011.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-re-sign-davis-bertans

That's the spirit, Davis!

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[G R E Y]

It's officially official! Part II:

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Noteworthy stat:

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The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Rudy Gay. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Gay is one of three players in the NBA, along with LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, to record at least 14,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 1,000 steals since he was drafted in 2006.

The 12-year veteran appeared in 57 games for the Spurs last season and averaged 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.6 minutes while shooting a career-high .471 (253-537) from the floor. He holds career averages of 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.30 steals in 34.6 minutes while shooting .453 from the field and .343 from three-point range in 810 total contests.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-re-sign-rudy-gay

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[G R E Y]

It's officially official! Part III:

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The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Lonnie Walker IV. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Walker IV, 6-5/205, was selected by the Spurs in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft (18th overall). Currently playing with San Antonio in the 2018 NBA Summer League, the rookie is averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.9 minutes in his first five appearances.

The Reading, Pa. native spent the 2017-18 season at the University of Miami, where he was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and received Honorable Mention All-ACC, becoming the first freshman in school history to earn all-league honors.

In his lone season with the Hurricanes, Walker IV averaged a team-high 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.8 minutes while shooting .415 (132-318) from the floor, .346 (56-162) from three-point range and .738 (48-65) from the free throw line in 32 games. The first freshman to lead Miami in scoring since 2000-01, Walker helped the Hurricanes finish the season with a 22-10 record.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-sign-2018-first-round-pick-lonnie-walker-iv

[G R E Y]

Spreading the love, strengthening the bonds of the Spurs Family:

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[G R E Y]

Hopefully it's the best case scenario. Metu was impressive on both ends on SL. He is a smart player, capable of contributing each time he's out there, making the most of his court time:

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[UDRIH14]

well todays date is judgement day where the spurs can offer KL a supermax, but no...

[G R E Y]

About Metu's injury, tests confirm a wrist fracture, but it will not need surgery, and he should be good to go by September. Heal well, Chimezie!

Spurs medical staff confirms Metu wrist fracture

The Spurs medical staff confirmed Saturday that second-round draft pick Chimezie Metu fractured his left wrist during action at the Las Vegas Summer League, a league source said.

Metu was injured late in the Spurs' 95-90 win over Washington on Sunday, when he landed awkwardly after leaping to catch a lob pass at the rim. The 6-foot-10 big man finished the game but did not play for the remainder of Summer League, which ended for the Spurs on Friday.

Metu has been fitted with a cast. The injury is not considered serious.

The 48th pick in June's draft out of USC, Metu averaged 10.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and a block in three games in Salt Lake City, following that up with 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in two appearances in Vegas.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-medical-staff-confirms-Metu-wrist-fracture-13075477.php

The wrist won’t require surgery, and he should be back in action by September, the league source said....

Metu hopes his Summer League play will help him become the first second-round pick since DeJuan Blair in 2009 to be signed by the Spurs in the summer of his draft.

Typically, the Spurs have been content to let their second-round picks develop for a year or two either in the G League or overseas rather than rushing them to the NBA.

https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Metu-s-left-wrist-injury-a-fracture-13076021.php?utm_campaign=twitter-premium&utm_source=CMS%20Sharing%20Button&utm_medium=social

[G R E Y]

Spurs' Hilliard remains restricted free agent

Spurs guard Darrun Hilliard remains a restricted free agent after the Spurs opted not to rescind his one-year qualifying offer, a league source said Saturday.

Friday was the deadline for NBA teams to unilaterally withdraw a qualifying offer from a restricted free agent, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The Spurs now won't be able to rescind the offer without Hilliard's consent. From Saturday until Oct. 1, Hilliard would be able to accept that one-year offer at any time.

After Oct. 1, the qualifying offer would no longer be an option for Hilliard. He would still be restricted after that date but would no longer have the one-year qualifying to fall back on.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-Hilliard-remains-restricted-free-agent-13075535.php

Hilliard update:

Hilliard, 25, signed a two-way contract with the Spurs in September 2017.

In 14 games for the Spurs last season, the Villanova-ex averaged 1.1 points in 14 games. In 36 games for the Austin Spurs, Hilliard helped the club win the G League championship by averaging 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 36 games while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

As a three-year veteran, Hilliard remains eligible for another two-way contract.

https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Metu-s-left-wrist-injury-a-fracture-13076021.php?utm_campaign=twitter-premium&utm_source=CMS%20Sharing%20Button&utm_medium=social

[G R E Y]

New Spurs FA signing on yet another short contract. We've got better length and athleticism at several positions.

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The Spurs continued work on filling out their frontcourt Monday, agreeing to a one-year deal with journeyman Dante Cunningham.

Cunningham, 31, has played for six teams in nine NBA seasons. He split last season between New Orleans and Brooklyn, averaging 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds between two stops.

The 6-foot-8 Cunningham, who can play either forward position, enjoyed his best season in 2012-13, when he averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds for Minnesota.

Cunningham's deal with the Spurs is believed to be for the veteran's minimum $2.39 million.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-land-journeyman-Cunningham-13079538.php

He's a good sport. Welcome to the Spurs Family, Dante!

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