With only one roster spot left, who will be the next Spur?

There are four players vying for the final roster spot for the 2012-13 Spurs Roster and each are making the case with their play.  Here is a quick rundown of who is on the cusp.

Eddie Curry – An 11 year veteran that spent four seasons with the Bulls, four with the Knicks and most recently played last season with the Miami Heat.  Curry has had weight issues and spent the summer slimming down and working on his game.  The Spurs do have a need of another big man.

“I feel I’m in a good situation,” Curry told the San Antonio Express-News. “I worked hard this summer. Every game it’s just about showing everybody what I can do. I’m trying to focus on defense and rebounding, trying to play in the system and soak up as much as I can. I think I’m going to make it. Until they tell me I’m not, I feel like I’m part of this team.”

Derrick Brown – After receiving several invitations to camp with NBA teams, Brown chose the Spurs even though there was really only one roster spot to be had.  The three-year veteran, selected as the 40th overall draft pick in 2009 by the Charlotte Bobcats  played with them until 2011. He then signed on with the Knicks in March of 2011 but returned to the Bobcats in December of 2011 up until the end of the 2012 season.  The Bobcats made him an unrestricted free agent and  he signed on with the Spurs. Steven Jackson, a former teammate with the Bobcats had high praise for the journeyman who is averaging seven points in 15.7 minutes a game.

“He actually gave (one-time All-Star) Gerald Wallace a run for his money every day in practice,” Jackson said. “I think that’s what opened a lot of people’s eyes that he belongs in this league.”

Josh Powell – Veteran forward who’s NBA career began with the Dallas Mavericks in 2005.  Powell,  originally slotted to be the forward groomed to take over for  Dirk Nowitzki, was traded to the Pacers along with Darrell Armstrong and Rawlee Marshall in exchange for Anthony Johnson.  Powell, along with current Spur Stephen Jackson and two other players were dealt to the Golden State Warriors.  He next played for the Clipppers then the Lakers where he got considerable playing time for an injured Andrew Bynum.  After winning two Rings with the Lakers, Powell next signed on with the Hawks for the 2010/11 season.  The push for Powell and Curry was something Manu Ginobili recently spoke about.

“There are 13 returning guys, so there aren’t many that can surprise you. But, of course, having Josh Powell and Eddy Curry on the roster is a big thing,” Ginobili said. “They’re both great players, talented bigs that (aren’t) easy to find in the league anymore. So, it’s good to have them around and give them a chance.”

Wesley Witherspoon -Rookie guard/forward combo out of Memphis has made the most of his rookie camp recently scoring 17-points in a start against the Houston Rockets. He has had to shed the  title of being ‘soft’ as in not doing everything he can to improve himself and with the Rockets game, he may have just done that.

 

 

 

Brown, Powell highlight camp additions

With the first practice of training camp looming next week, the Spurs’ training camp roster is beginning to take shape.

The team on Thursday formally announced four more additions, all of  them forwards, including two with NBA experience:

* Derrick Brown, 6-foot-8, spent most of his three NBA seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats. The 25-year-old started 17 of 65 games with Charlotte last season, averaging 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.

* Josh Powell, earned championship rings as a reserve with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and last played in the NBA in 2010-11 with Atlanta. The 29-year-old, who stands 6-foot-9, spent last season in China, Switzerland and Puerto Rico.

* Tyler Wilkerson, also 6-foot-8, is a veteran of  two Spurs Summer League squads. The 24-year-old spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Israel.

* Wesley Witherspoon , 6-foot-9, is an undrafted rookie out of Memphis, where he appeared in 121 games in four seasons, averaging 8.2 points and 3.7 rebounds. He was Conference USA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2008-09.

With the signings, the Spurs’ training camp roster stands at 18, two below the maximum. The roster must be trimmed to 15 before the start of the season.

The Spurs open camp Tuesday.

Najera retires from NBA to coach D-League’s Legends

FRISCO — Eduardo Najera, the first Mexican-born player drafted in the NBA, retired Wednesday to become the coach of the NBA Development League’s Texas Legends.

Najera was drafted by Houston in the second round in 2000. The former Cornerstone High and Oklahoma standout played 12 NBA seasons with Dallas, Golden State, Denver, New Jersey and Charlotte.

The Legends said Najera will now be the first Mexican-born head coach under the NBA umbrella. The deal also includes Najera becoming a minority owner of the Legends, who are co-owned by Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, and holding a front-office position with the NBA team.

“This is a dream come true,” Najera said. “I have long wondered what would be in store for me when I hung up the basketball playing shoes, and this is the perfect opportunity for my post-playing career. The chance to develop as a coach, while also assisting Mark (Cuban) and Donnie with the Mavs, is an ideal situation.”

Najera succeeds Del Harris as the Legends coach. Harris is the general manager.

The Legends’ first coach two years ago was Nancy Lieberman, the first woman to coach a men’s pro team.

Najera, who made his NBA debut with the Mavericks in 2000 and played parts of five seasons in Dallas, played the last two seasons with the Bobcats.