Report: De Colo to join Spurs
It was reported here at Project Spurs that San Antonio Spurs 2009 draftee Nando De Colo was set to sign with Barcelona after this season with Valencia which would have all but ended any possibility of 
him joining the Spurs anytime soon.
However, according to Spanish site Encestando, De Colo will be joining the Spurs next season.
Nando Colo most likely played his last game last night in the League Endesa. We expect that the (he will join) the San Antonio Spurs, which is the franchise that has his rights. The deal closed for weeks and only awaiting official confirmation and Valencia Basket does know.
The report goes on to state that the French guard will play an exhibition game in Spain with Barcelona and Madrid but will eventually join San Antonio.
In his last game with Valencia Basket, Nando finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in the ACB tournament losing to FCB Regal 3-1 in their semi finals series.
If the report is true then this shakes things up at the guard spot. De Colo doesn't have much quickness but can handle the ball, can find the open player, and could prove to be an adequate backup for Tony Parker. Also, he is a big guard at 6'5" which is an advantage the team would like to have.
This season with Valencia, Nando shot 46.2% from the field, 36% from the three-point line, averaged 3 rebounds, 13.5 points, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, but did turn the ball over 2.1 times a game. That's not a good assist-to-turnover ratio for a point guard.
However, if the team decides to make him the backup point guard, then what will happen to Gary Neal who is a free agent after this season and has been used as a point guard at times? James Anderson is probably not going to be with the team next season (since the Spurs did not pick up his option this season) so perhaps this just pushes Neal back to the shooting guard role. Also, Cory Joseph should improve next season with a full training camp under his belt and with a full 82-game season but will DeColo, a player who has been playing professionally for year, stunt Cory's development?
There is the option the Spurs could send him to the Toros should he still need to work on his game before stepping foot on an NBA court.
Moreover, Parker and De Colo will be playing together this summer for the French national team for the 2012 Olympic games so do not expect him to be playing with the Spurs' Summer League team with him training for the Olympics.
One this is for sure, should De Colo join San Antonio, the team sure will have the French fan market cornered with the possibility of the Spurs having three French players (Parker, Boris Diaw, and De Colo) on the roster next season.
What do you have to say Spurs fans? Chime on in.
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I don't see de Colo as a Spur. At 6'5" and a PG...I see his rights being traded. I could see Joseph being part of a trade also. Mills becoming TP's backup with Neal as 3rd PG when needed. I see Lorbek as a Spur. I guess that Diaw remains a Spur. Batum? I don't think so unless he doesn't want $$'s. Green stays...Cap'n Jack stays. Bonner, Blair and Splitter couls be used as trade also.
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You people with your idiotic suggestions, McGee ain't playing here & Richards is a project who may never play in the NBA. DeColo looks slow b/c he's a pass 1st point guard? That doesn't make any sense! Kaman & Okafor are weak, no team is worried about playing against either of them. Ridiculous trade scenarios! G. Hill ain't gonna stop Westbrook & he pulled his own disappearing act for the Spurs in the playoffs.
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De Colo coming over would be great but i think he should be used @ the two, Mills is a decent backup PG. But more important is addressing the lack of size Spurs need to go back to their old style of play having multiple bigs to control the paint and great wing defenders Green ,Leonard or even if they get Batum would have the wing on lock,Javale Mcgee would be perfect,young athletic and with the Spurs system he could be dominant force on defense.The key is really getting Ryan Richards over here so he can develop in the spurs system not saying he'll be a saviour but atleast you get the ball rolling.Mcgee,Kaman,Batum & possibly Ryan Richards would be key additions.
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Maybe deColo appears to be slow because he is a pass first pg. This could be a variation to what TP is doing, a shoot first pg. But he is 6'5" and it it very rare to find a pg with that height. Rightly the Spurs need height which blair or bonner doesn't provide. The Spurs MUST find some trading partners. Already the western finals have shown that Splitter is inadequate and Diaw can't take care of the interior. There are several teams with multiple ist round picks or free agents available at the end of the season. Sure enough, loyalty goes a long way for the Spurs but necessity have it for them to have at least 2 add'l big men. At the end of the season kaman, okafor and humphries and several others are available. Or they could trade for zeller, moultrie, jones 111 or melo. The draft is deep and there are several big men not considered like sims or even sidney. Let's not forget richards and lorbek. If bonner goes, they may sign bertans. The Spurs have several options. It's just a matter for finding a diamond in the rough which they usually do.
We need a spectacular big in the next few years to replace Timmy. I think we have plenty of pg depth, but would like to see them focus on find repalcement. Splitter's is good, but Palestine in comparisons to Duncan. Blairs height has been an issue too. I would love if they would make a run on hibbert, but perhaps they want to use Timmy's expired salary to sign a big at his retirement. Or they are expecting to do badly enough after he retires to hit the lottery....
Common sense says this report is likely in error. This makes no sense. He is too slow for the Western Div. and doesn't play a lot of D
I think the Spurs wanting Batum was a creation of Batum's agent. Now if only we could get Joakim Noah to demand a trade to the Spurs. Captain Jack and Blair for Noah would match on salaries. Please???
Sounds like pop is letting Parker take over, Diaw, nando, and wanting Batum? Maybe we should push for turiaf too! This to me means green or Neal are gone. I have to say I would rather keep green over Neal.
