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 appreciates chance to earn Spurs roster spot

By Jeff McDonald

HOUSTON — Derrick Brown says he received make-good offers from a handful of other teams before the start of this year’s training camp.

He chose to go camping with the Spurs, despite the fact the team has only one roster spot open.

Two weeks in, and no matter what happens, the versatile forward is confident he made the right decision.

“You don’t appreciate things sometimes until you’ve seen something else,” said Brown, a former Charlotte Bobcat. “I love it here. From top to bottom, this organization is run the right way. I’d love to be a part of it. Love to.”

Three games into the preseason, Brown is doing his best to make that wish come true.

While fans have focused on more familiar names such as Eddy Curry and Josh Powell in the race for the Spurs’ final available slot, Brown has helped himself with a solid camp and exhibition season.

In three games, Brown, 25, has averaged seven points in 15.7 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-9 combo forward has played mostly power forward during his run with the Spurs. His athleticism and ability to guard small forwards has inflated his stock among Spurs decision-makers.

A three-year veteran, Brown played all but eight of his 171 NBA games with Charlotte, where Spurs forward Stephen Jackson was a teammate for two seasons.

“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.”

Brown, who averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds for a dismal Charlotte team last season, says his experience with the Bobcats has prepared him for this shot with the Spurs.

“I learned a long time ago, you can’t control the situation that you’re in, but you can control what you do in that situation,” Brown said. “If you learn from it, it makes you who you are.

“I can’t control that I have to make a team this year. I can only play.”

Decisions can wait: Throughout the preseason, coach Gregg Popovich has deflected questions aimed at handicapping what the team plans to do with its final roster spot — assuming the team plans to fill it at all.

The Spurs must make at least three more cuts before the start of the season.

With Curry, Powell and Brown all contributing positive things in spurts, Popovich believes the final roster decision will go down to the wire.

“I think it will take a while,” Popovich said. “A couple of those guys will make it to the very end, I would imagine, if they keep playing the way they are now.”

All aboard for Houston: The Spurs took a full plane to Houston, meaning — in theory at least — today’s game against the Rockets could feature many roster regulars.

Only reserve point guard Patty Mills, nursing a right ankle sprain, has been ruled out. Manu Ginobili is expected to return after missing the past two games with a sore foot.

Williams picks Nets instead of Mavs

Star guard Deron Williams will sign a five-year, $98 million deal with the Nets, spurning his hometowm Mavs. GETTY IMAGES

Deron Williams is moving to Brooklyn with the Nets, instead of back home to Dallas.

The All-Star point guard said on his Twitter page Tuesday night that he “made a very tough decision today” and posted a picture of the Nets’ new team logo that accompanies their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.

A person with knowledge of the decision said Williams told the team he was accepting their five-year contract worth $98 million. The person confirmed the agreement on condition of anonymity because contracts can’t be signed until July 11.

Williams, the top free agent available, chose to stay with the Nets over signing with the Mavericks, who hoped they could convince him to come back to the area where he grew up.

It’s a huge triumph for the Nets as they prepare to move into the new Barclays Center to start the 2012-13 season. They gave up an enormous package to get Williams in a surprising February 2011 trade, sending promising forward Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris, two first-round draft picks and cash to the Utah Jazz.

But it was worth it for the Nets, who needed a franchise ? player to build buzz for their move to New York.

Williams wanted to make a quick decision before he reports to training camp in Las Vegas with the U.S. Olympic squad Thursday. He met with both teams Monday, the day after free agency opened.

Williams’ decision comes a day after the Nets agreed to a deal with Atlanta for All-Star guard Joe Johnson, and amid reports they are still hoping to make a deal with Orlando for Dwight Howard. Brooklyn also has a deal in place to re-sign versatile free agent forward Gerald Wallace.

Just two years after a 70-loss season, the Nets will have one of the NBA’s best backcourts and are poised to make a quick move up the Eastern Conference standings.

Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks had spoken openly about their desire to bring Williams back to North Texas, where he starred at The Colony High School. Owner Mark Cuban’s team never made much attempt to defend its 2011 NBA title, letting key players such as Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea leave through free agency so the Mavs could save money for this summer’s free agency.

But Dallas could only offer Williams a four-year deal worth about $75 million under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement.

Another development Tuesday could leave Dallas with even more questions about what to do next. ESPN.com reported that the Celtics were closing in on a three-year deal that pays $5 million per season to guard Jason Terry, a former Sixth Man of the Year who was key in helping the Mav?ericks win their first championship two seasons ago.

As for the Nets, they’re retaining one of the league’s top point guards. Williams averaged 21 points and 8.7 assists last season and had a 57-point game. He was ahead of his competitors when last season started after playing in Turkey during the lockout.

The Jazz decided to deal him at the 2011 deadline after a clash with former Utah coach Jerry Sloan, and without knowing if Williams would stay there long-term.

Williams didn’t always seem to enjoy playing in New Jersey, with the Nets spending the last two seasons in a temporary home in Newark.