San Antonio Spurs' free-agent, Ian Mahinmi, is close to signing a new contract according to the French National team's coach, Vincent Collet, via Le Figaro.com.

Laissé libre par San Antonio, Ian Mahinmi attend de trouver un nouvel employeur. Une signature pourrait intervenir d'après les informations de Vincent Collet.

Rough English translation:

Vacated by San Antonio, Ian Mahinmi waiting to find a new employer. A signature could come "soon" according to information from Vincent Collet.

Mahinmi will be part of the selection camp to play for French National team in Turkey at this summer's FIBA World Championships.

Though it was not stated which team Mahinmi will be signing with, chances are it will be the Spurs.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs legend and NBA Hall of Famer, David Robinson, weighed in on what the Spurs need to address in the off-season, his thoughts on Tiago Splitter, and on his "return" to the Spurs.

Tiago Splitter and his team, Caja Laboral, beat Barcelona today to capture the Spanish League title. With the victory Splitter was named MVP of the Spanish League Finals.

Por su parte, el jugador del Caja Laboral Tiago Splitter fue designado como el más valorado de la final.

Let's not forget, Splitter also won the regular season MVP award this season as well. This was just the second time someone won both the regular season and Finals MVP trophy since Arvydas Sabonis accomplished it in 1995.

This could be Splitter's last game with Caja Laboral, as the San Antonio Spurs (who hold his rights after drafting him in the 2007 NBA Draft) and Spurs fans now await his decision on whether he will be playing with the Spurs next season or not.

However, does this championship and this Finals MVP trophy make it more tempting for him to stay where he is now and pass up on playing with the Spurs?

San Antonio Spurs' forward, DeJuan Blair proved to every NBA team that passed on drafting him during the 2009 NBA Draft that he does have what it takes to make it in the NBA despite the lack of ACLs.

But can Blair prove to the MLB he can "bring the heat" on the pitching mound?

This Wednesday, Blair will be throwing out the first pitch for the MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates:

Former University of Pittsburgh basketball player DeJuan Blair will throw out Wednesday's ceremonial first pitch at PNC Park.

Good luck Blair. Just make sure to take it easy. No need for any freak accidents on the pitching mound. Did I just jinx him?

The 2010 NBA Vegas Summer league Schedule was announced today and as usual, the San Antonio Spurs will be a participating team.

The Spurs will kick things off July 12, 2010 at 3:30 P.M. at Thomas & Mack as they will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The rest of the Spurs' Vegas Summer League schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, July 14, vs. Atlanta Hawks at 3:30 P.M. at Thomas & Mack
• Thursday, July 15, vs. the L.A. Lakers at 1 P.M. at Cox Pavilion
• Saturday, July 17, vs. the L.A. Clippers at 5 P.M. at Cox Pavilion
• Sunday, July 18, vs. the Memphis Grizzlies at 1:30 P.M. at Thomas & Mack

(all times local Las Vegas time)

For the complete schedule click here to visit Ridiculous Upside.

On this episode of the Spurscast, Mike and I discuss the constant trade rumors revolving around Tony Parker and the New York Knicks. We also talk a lot about the soap opera that is Tiago Splitter and all the latest concerning him and the San Antonio Spurs.

More college players working out for the Spurs, Spurs trying to move up in the 2010 NBA Draft, Mike's lack of Internet, and much more!

Oh and Mike also inadvertently does a Napoleon Dynamite impression. See if you can spot it on this episode of the Spurscast.

The Spurscast. The first and original Spurs podcast.

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Music by Led Zeppelin "Kashmir"

By now most San Antonio Spurs fans have heard the rumor that the team is interested in moving up in the 2010 NBA Draft. One team that has been mentioned in trade rumors with the Spurs is the Indiana Pacers which holds the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Currently, the Spurs hold the 20th overall pick.

According to journaltimes.com, the reason the Spurs want to move up is because the team is interested in drafting Ed Davis from North Carolina:

A rumor that surfaced at the pre-draft camp continues to percolate: San Antonio, which is picking 20th, is trying to acquire Indiana‘s pick, the 10th overall. The Spurs are believed to be interested in North Carolina forward Ed Davis.

Davis is a 6'9" power-forward who averaged 12.9 points, shot 57.8% from the field, 65.9% from the free-throw line and averaged 9.2 rebounds.

One name which is sure to be involved in any trade would be Spurs' point-guard Tony Parker. Recently Parker has been mentioned in a trade rumor between the Spurs and Pacers for the Pacers' 10th pick in the draft, Troy Murphy and Brandon Rush.

Recently on Foxsports.com, the San Antonio Spurs were the focus on a 2010 NBA Draft beakdown.  Tony Parker, Tiago Splitter, Paul George of Fresno State and much more Spurs news was discussed. Enjoy!

Arianné is back for the latest Spanish edition of the Spurscast. In this episode, Arianne recaps the latest news about Tony Parker trade rumors, Manu Ginobili, college players working out for the Spurs and much more.

Remember, Project Spurs was the first Spurs blog to have a San Antonio Spurs podcast and the first to have a Spanish podcast for Spanish-speaking Spurs fans.

Arianne regresa con el Spurscast en Español mas reciente.  En este episodio Arianné repasa el noticias de Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili y mucho mas notacias de los Spurs.

Recuerden que Project Spurs fue la primera página de Internet en tener un podcast de Los San Antonio Spurs y la primera en tener un podcast en español para los fanáticos de habla hispana.

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By now, all Spurs fans heard the news that former San Antonio Spur, Avery Johnson, is now the head coach of the New Jersey Nets and like most coaches or front-office personnel in the NBA, he took his first steps with the Spurs.

Johnson, best remembered by Spurs fans as the "Little General" helped the Spurs win their first NBA title in the 1999 NBA Finals versus the New York Knicks and for his heavy Louisiana accent.

But now that he is back in coaching, here is what Johnson's former coach, Gregg Popovich, had to say about him:

“I needed a point guard who was a leader, and who could command respect of the group,” Popovich said. “So Avery was home watching TV, without a contract again, and I called him and said, ‘Avery, get your butt down here right now — I’m going to give you your first multi-year contract.’

“And I knew it would be the best move I’d ever make, because I knew his heart. He was just a competitive SOB.”

“He’s got a special mind — you’re going to see it in New Jersey, even if they’re going to be young,” Popovich said of Johnson. “He taught himself what it takes to be successful in the league, and since then he’s taught others. He’ll get a defensive mentality established with the group. He’ll get Devin (Harris) in attack mode. He’ll adjust regardless of what personnel they get there. 

“You know I hate superlatives, and how people exaggerate. I mean, the only ‘geniuses’ I know are people who do medical research. So I don’t want to overstate this, but Avery has a brilliant basketball mind. I knew it way back when, and I know it now.”

After his time with the Spurs, Johnson moved on to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.  It was surprising to hear from Spurs fans who called him a "traitor" for joining the rival Mavericks.

Though things did not work out in Dallas, he did win an NBA Coach of the Year award and his jersey is now retired in San Antonio.  Johnson knows it all began in San Antonio and especially with Popovich.  And no matter what, he will always be a Spur in the hearts of Spurs fans.