• Hairston released by Italian team

According to The Hoops Market, former Spurs Malik Hairston, who was recently released by the Spurs and signed by Montepaschi Siena of the Italian League, is now a man without a team.

Just a month ago after signing Malik Hairston, Montepaschi Siena has decided to terminate his contract. The 23-year-old American guard, who arrived from the San Antonio Spurs, is suffering a disc problem that doesn't allow him to play normally. Hairston, though, will continue his rehabilitation in Siena, and the Italian club could considerate to re-sign him with new contract conditions.

No details were given on the severity of the disc injury and what kind, from a herniated to ruptured disc, but my guess is that with the proper rehab that a professional should offer, he won't be "unemployed" for long.

• Spurs working out Gardner

Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld tweeted yesterday that Thomas Gardner would be working out for the Spurs today.

Gardner has been playing in Belgium for the Antwerp Giants after his NBA stints with the Bulls, Hawks and Grizzlies.

Gardner is a 6-5 guard with NBA averages of 2.3 points in just over seven minutes per game.

It's not surprising the Spurs are looking at another shooter, after they struggled with shooting last season, but it is surprising that they continue to bring in guards, when backup small forward is likely the biggest weakness at this point.

UPDATE:

The Spurs are also looking at Jawad Williams from North Carolina as a possible invitee for their upcoming training camp:

Williams, a 6-foot-9, 218-pound forward who was on North Carolina's NCAA championship team in 2005, played the past two seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is a restricted free agent, which will allow the Cavaliers to match any contract offer the Spurs may elect to give him. (source mysanantonio.com)

Williams averaged 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game for the Cavs last season.

I asked Glenn Moore of the Dugout Sports Show and Sports Talk Cleveland what he thought of Williams. Moore said Williams is a good bench player and contributed when he got the minutes.

The Spurs still have their bi-annual exception if they like what they see in Williams and choose to make him an offer.

• Suns bring back Jones

Former Austin Toro Dwayne Jones is going back to the Phoenix Suns after he was traded to the Toronto Rapors with Leandro Barbosa for Hedo Turkoglu.

Jones, who I pleaded with the Spurs front office to bring up from Austin, was waived by the Raptors on August 16.

Jeff Garcia contributed to this post.

Editor's note: Recently, the Basketball Hall of Fame inducted the 1992 Dream Team which included former San Antonio Spurs' legend, David Robinson. To honor Robinson, Jordan Rivas makes the point that Robinson was the best Olympic player ever to wear the red, white and blue jersey. Enjoy.

I remember, clearly, watching the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championships. I remember watching the USA Men's Basketball team implode, watching Jermaine O'Neal punch a cooler full of Gatorade, but not manage to box out a 6-5 power forward from Yugoslavia, and hearing Paul Pierce say he was "embarrassed" to be on a USA Basketball team that lost the way they did.

No matter what anyone says, that was the low point for USA Basketball. The 2008 Olympic were a more public confirmation of what I already learned in 2006. USA Basketball lost its way for a while, and only of late has it started to redeem itself.

The golden era of international basketball in the 90s, including the Dream Team of 1992, actually included a staple that was also instrumental in the revival of the Spurs' comeback in the same time period - a Naval Academy graduate and seven foot powerhouse named David Robinson.

For years now everyone in San Antonio has known David Robinson as the man who saved the franchise, who kept the Spurs in town by making them relevant in the basketball world again. What may be forgotten (or at least starting to be forgotten) is how instrumental Robinson was in keeping USA Basketball afloat, and helping to catapult it to the level of international acclaim that it eventually reached.

David has always chosen to serve his country, first with the Naval academy, and then by representing USA Basketball three times in Olympic competition, more than any other player ever. He has an Olympic record of 23-1, only losing once against the Soviets in 1988. He competed in nine total international competitions for USA Basketball over an eleven year period - from 1985 to 1996 - with an overall record of 61-4. He never lost a game after the loss in 1988.

Robinson has played in more Olympic basketball games (24) than any other player in USA Basketball history. He also holds the record for most total points (280) over an Olympic career, as well as rebounds (124), and blocks (34). He's also fifth all-time in steals (28), and recorded the most blocks in a single competition (19) in the '88 Olympics.

David has won two gold medals (1992 and 1996), and he has twice received the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year award, once as the sole recipient in 1988, and again as the co-recipient on the 1992 Dream Team.

1988 Olympics, Seoul

In 1988 USA Basketball was still in the pre-Dream Team era, and comprised of non-professional players. The 1988 team was led by future NBA stars like Robinson and Mitch Richmond. Following the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, 1988 was expected to be another gold for the US.

Unfortunately one misstep against the Soviets, the only loss for the US, prevented that, and the US took home the bronze.

The 1988 Olympics are easily the most over looked in David's Olympic career. They didn't win gold, so it shuffled aside when compared to the 1992 Dream Team and 1996 gold medal run. What people might not realize is how much of an impact David had on that 1988 team. He led the team in scoring in three different games, and even in the loss to the Soviets he led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

He finished the tournament averaging 12.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and shooting an astonishing .580 percent from the field. In a small dim spot for USA Basketball, David was still a consistent bright spot.

1992 Olympics, Barcelona

The 1992 Olympic Dream Team is perhaps the greatest assembly of sports talent ever accumulated onto one team - and it included Robinson. I don't even think people realize how much significance that carries. No team will ever surpass the greatness of the Dream Team, and he was a part of that; that, among a list of other accomplishments, solidified David's place in the basketball pantheon.

What many people may also not realize, is David played in the 1992 Olympics injured. He had a torn ligament in left hand, his shooting hand. Despite that he still started in four out of the eight games he played, shooting .574 percent from the field and averaging nine points per game.

And yes, as you already know, the Dream Team went a perfect 8-0, demolishing every team in their path to a flawless gold medal run. And as part of that, on the best basketball team ever, David was the co-winner of the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year Award, essentially making him the best of the best.

1996 Olympics, Atlanta

As we all know, David likes to go out on top, and with a bang. This is a tradition that fittingly started well before his 2003 finale with the Spurs. It started with his final Olympic appearance in the 1996 Atlanta games.

Naturally, the US routed all their opponents to another 8-0 Olympic gold medal. David led the team with an 18 point seven rebound effort in the opening game for a 96-68 win against Argentina. It was in the gold medal game, however, were he really left his mark.

In the final game against Yugoslavia David poured in a 28 point effort on 9-11 shooting from the field, and added seven rebounds, leading the US to a 95-69 victory. His 28 point game is still tied for the fifth highest point total in a single game men's Olympic game. He also attempted the most free-throws ever in a men's Olympic game with 14.

Robinson has not only had an exemplary record of performance on the court during his Olympic runs, he also demonstrated the same kind of world class professionalism and sportsmanship we've all known him for with the Spurs. On a world stage, several times over, he represented the Spurs, San Antonio, and our nation with great character, as well as talent.

We didn't just choose to write about him because he's a Spur, we chose to write this piece because David Robinson is the single greatest Olympic basketball player ever, and we thought that in the light of the decline and resurgence of USA Basketball for the past decade or so, that we should remind people of the gold standard in USA Basketball.

It's day two of the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey as the preliminary rounds continue.

Today Lithuania, France and Brazil played which mean Robertas Javtokas, Nando de Colo and Tiago Splitter were in action for their respective countries. This also meant San Antonio Spurs fans were keeping an eye out on these players seeing how they all have been drafted by the Spurs.

Here are their performances from day two.

Javtokas:

Lithuania took on Canada and barely got the win 70-68. Javtokas played four minutes and had one turnover and did not score.

de Colo:

After a stunning win against Spain, France took on Lebanon. Hoping to shake off his horrible showing against Spain, de Colo looked much better.

He got the start and immediately was looking to push the ball for France. He was finding the open player and scored his first points at the World Championship with a three-pointer early in the first quarter.

At the end of the first de Colo scored five points.

After a long delay in the second quarter due to a Nicolas Batum dunk which caused the rim to break, de Colo saw a bit more action. He got to the line and nailed a pair of free-throws. At the half he scored seven points.

In the second half, de Colo continued to look great. He lead France in the third quarter scoring seven points, helping the team put away Lebanon early.

He finished the game with 14 points, shot 44% from the field, 33% from the three-point line, went 4-4 from the free-throw line, had two assists and two turnovers in 23 minutes of play. France remains undefeated at 2-0 and beat Lebanon, 86-59.

Splitter:

After scoring 13 points for Brazil against Iran and having his hands full defending Iran's big man Hamed Haddadi, Splitter and Brazil took on Tunisia.

Splitter got the start for Brazil and looked to be aggressive on the block. He drew contact from the Tunisian defender and went to the line and made both free-throws. Splitter showed great all around foot-work and a great back to the basket moves as in one play he faked left, pivoted to the right for his signature left-handed hook.

Splitter also showed tremendous hustle in the first quarter as he dove out of bounds to try to save the ball. Though Spurs fans may have cringed to see him dive head first.

In the second quarter, he did not play much ad checked into the game late.

The Tunisian defenders were physical with Splitter and he even drew an occasional double-team to keep him from rebounding the ball.

At the end of the first half, Splitter had eight points.

In the third quarter he did not play much. Tunisia was throwing a double-team at Splitter. He picked up two fouls and sat for most of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Splitter shined for Brazil. Right away he went to work displaying low post moves and his jump hook in the lane. His hook-shot is very accurate and his foot work is very developed.

Brazil remains undefeated at 2-0 and gets the win over Tunisia, 80-65. Splitter finished with 16 points, shot 60% from the field, was 4-4 from the free-throw line, four rebounds, three turnovers and one steal in 23 minutes of play.

Splitter and Brazil will next face Team USA tomorrow.

The 2010 FIBA World Championship kicked off today in Turkey and for San Antonio Spurs fans, eyes were on Brazil, France and Lithuania as Tiago Splitter, Nando de Colo and Robertas Javtokas played for their respective countries.

Here is how they did today in their opening round games.

de Colo:

Though the French national team pulled off the upset to defeat Spain, the defending World Champions, de Colo had a game to forget.

He played in the first half but did not see action in the second half. He drew the tough defensive assignment to guard Spain's Ricky Rubio but it was the Spanish defense on de Colo which seemed to throw him off his game.

Though he did show flashes of aggressiveness going to the rim in the first quarter when he drove strong into the lane against Spain's Marc Gasol but missed the shot.

He finished the game scoreless, got one steal which led to an easy score for France and drew a charge on the defensive end.

Javtokas:

Javtokas did not have a good game as well as Lithuania faced New Zealand. He played four minutes, shot 50% from the field, grabbed one rebound, had one blocked shot and scored two points.

Splitter:

Splitter had the tough assignment of guarding Iran's big man Hamed Haddadi who also plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. On two occasions, Haddadi blocked Splitter's shot attempts.

Splitter did show an all around game which should bring a smile to Spurs fans next season. He used his body well in the paint to get to the basket and even picked up the "and 1" in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Splitter showed he can pass out of the paint when he found a Brazilian player at the opposite end of the court for an easy score. He also showed a knack for getting steals and scored most of his points in the paint.

At the half he scored seven points.

In the third quarter, Splitter showed he can run on the break and got a slam-dunk for Brazil but he continued to have the tough defensive assignment on Haddadi.

In the fourth quarter, Splitter had a huge dunk off a fast break and in the next play he ran the floor for an easy lay-up on a Brazil fast break.

What he showed was he can run up the court on fast breaks, cut to the rim, footwork in the paint and is constantly moving around the basket.

He finished the game with 13 points, shot 60% from the field, made 1/1 free-throws, grabbed four rebounds, had one assist, one steal and had one blocked shot in 23 minutes of play.

• Tiago Splitter

Splitter recently sat down for an interview where he spoke on going to the NBA, the 2010 World Championship and more. To see the interview click HERE to visit FIBATV.com.

• Rod Thorn

Current Philadelphia 76ers President, Rod Thorn, reflected on his time with the New Jersey Nets and spoke about the 2003 NBA Finals against the Spurs. He feels the Nets should have been the NBA Champions and not the Spurs. Looks like he isn't over it after all these years:

"With the Nets, we went to the NBA Finals twice, but we were outmatched with Shaq and Kobe the first time. We didn't have a shot. They were too good. I thought we had a great chance against San Antonio, though. We matched up well with them and we won one of the first two games in San Antonio. Then we were tied 2-2, and in Game 5 we throw the ball away in the last few minutes of a close game. We then go to San Antonio for Game 6 and have a double-digit lead and blow it. We should've been champions; I'll always believe that. (source nba.com)

Jeff and I got together to talk some San Antonio Spurs news, even though it's one of the slowest NBA months.

We talked about the one current Spur and two potentially future Spurs who are representing the silver & black in Turkey for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Tiago Splitter will be playing for a powerhouse Brazil team. With the loss of Nene, Splitter should see more playing time, which worries both of us about the possibility of injury.

Nando de Colo, will be playing for France, and with Tony Parker not playing, de Colo should see plenty of playing time to prove himself and really gain some beneficial experience. Robertas Javtokas will be representing Lithuania. He kept his cool in one of the "friendlies" against the United States and it'll be good to see where he is at with his career.

We also talked about Danny Ferry coming back to the Spurs, I struggle to remember a former foreign NBA player's name coach Popovich wanted on the squad, some of the latest content on Project Spurs and we make fun of John Karalis of Red's Army on his NBA 2K10 player getting destroyed by video game Richard Jefferson.

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Intro Music: Paranoid by Black Sabbath

Back in 1996, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks made a trade which resulted in the Spurs receiving Charles Smith and Monty Williams while the Knicks received JR Reid, Brad Lohaus and a 1996 first round pick.

The Spurs were looking to replace Dennis Rodman who was traded to the Chicago Bulls for center Will Perdue.

However, did you know the Spurs really wanted to trade for Charles Oakley?

Instead, the Knicks turned to the Spurs, who originally called Grunfeld about acquiring Charles Oakley. San Antonio was looking for a power forward to replace Dennis Rodman and the Spurs now feel they have their man.

This made me think how Oakley would have been a suitable replacement for Rodman in the 1995-1996 season and how a David Robinson, Sean Elliott and Oakley front-court would have been formidable. Not to mention, he would have helped erase the "soft" label the Spurs had.

It also made me wonder if Oakely would have made a difference in the playoffs that year against the Utah Jazz.

That season, the Spurs finished first in the Midwest Division with a record of 59-23. In the playoffs they beat the Phoenix Suns in the first-round (3-1) but lost in the Western Conference semi-finals (4-2) to the Jazz.

In the playoffs for that season, Smith averaged 5.1 points, 50% from the field, 3.7 rebounds and averaged 37% from the free-throw line. Oakley averaged 13.1 points, 50% from the field, 8.6 rebounds and shot 69% from the free-throw line for the Knicks.

More importantly, Oakley would have been a big help in challenging the Jazz. He would have been a defensive pain for Karl Malone and would have provided the toughness the Spurs desperately needed.

He would have taken pressure off Robinson (who often had to guard Malone) leaving him to become a weak-side defender. It would have also left Robinson to defend and have his way on the offensive end against the likes of Greg Ostertag, Antoine Carr and Felton Spencer. Also, Oakely was the "enforcer" type. If any opposing player would have laid a hard foul on his teammate, they would have had to answer to him.

However, Oakley would have had trouble if Malone took him away from the paint and started to hit his outside shots. Oakley was not a quick defender away from the basket.

As for Smith, he lasted two seasons with the Spurs before retiring in 1997 due to injuries but I leave you with this. Here is what former Spurs' GM, Gregg Popovich, had to say about Smith when the trade was finalized:

"We are thrilled to have been able to make this deal," said Spurs GM Gregg Popovich. "Charles Smith is exactly what our team needed at the power forward position. Our frontline of David Robinson, Charles Smith and Sean Elliott is going to be among the best in the NBA."

Sports Illustrated ranked Tiago Splitter number four, Nando de Colo number seven and Robertas Javtokas number nine on their list of players to watch in the upcoming 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Splitter:

The Brazilian team is loaded with talent, most notably Leandro Barbosa, but Tiago Splitter is the team's true rising star. The 6-foot-11 center was named the Spanish League MVP in 2010 and will play for the San Antonio Spurs this season. With Brazilian center Nene expected to miss the tournament, Splitter will be called upon heavily, and he could have a breakout performance.

As mentioned, Nene will be out of the tournament which means more minutes for Splitter. For Spurs fans this has to raise some concerns seeing how with an increase in playing time means an increase in risk of injury.

de Colo:

An array of French stars are sitting out the 2010 World Championship -- Tony Parker and Joakim Noah to name a few -- but the team is still loaded with young up-and-comers, including 6-foot-6 combo guard Nando De Colo. He struggled in France's pre-worlds exhibition game against the U.S. but has shown loads of potential in recent years, which led the San Antonio Spurs to select him in the 2009 draft.

de Colo has two more seasons with Valencia which will help him develop his game more. By then he should make the jump to the NBA. Recently, Valencia did increase his buy out so if the Spurs are looking to bring him over anytime soon, this could be an issue.

Javtokas:

A member of the Lithuanian national team since 2002, Robertas Javtokas is one of the best big men in the competition. A motorcycle crash stalled his career in 2002, but Javtokas has since recovered and reclaimed his dominance. The 6-foot-11 center scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds in an exhibition against Team USA on Aug. 21, holding his own against the likes of Tyson Chandler and Lamar Odom and even getting the better of them in some instances.

Javtokas was drafted by the Spurs in 2001. He is a solid big man and could help the Spurs in the future.

For the complete list, click HERE.

The San Antonio Spurs did some retooling this offseason adding Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal and drafting James Anderson. All three will contribute to the Spurs' success if they can mesh well with the "Big Three" of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The Spurs might have found the right mix of talent and experience to make it back to the top but each of the new players will quickly grasp how most of the Spurs' offense and defense revolves around Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.

Now I'm not a basketball expert but I have followed the Spurs since Duncan arrived in San Antonio and I'm pretty familiar with the Spurs' style of play. So Splitter, Anderson and Neal, if you just happen to be reading this, here are a few pointers, from me to you, on how to play with the Spurs' "Big Three."

Splitter:

1) Be ready to provide some weak side help on defense. If an opponent gets past Duncan's defense, you have to be ready to protect the rim like David Robinson used to.

2) In case you didn't know, Ginobili likes to go left. Try setting screens to free him up and make sure to rotate to the rim for the pick-and-roll. He will find you with a drop pass or a hand-off.

3) With Parker, just create space. He can get to the rim so quick so be ready to set solid picks on top of they key.

It's no secret the Spurs put a premium on defense and this is where you will be of tremendous help. Your length and mobility will make the teams' interior defense better instantly. Although you have to be extra careful as you tend to be a little more aggressive on the defensive end causing you to commit some unwanted fouls. You will be fine after you get your feet wet. Your basketball instincts will take over and your style of play fits right in with the team.

Anderson:

1) Parker loves athletic players who can stay with him on the break. If your conditioning is on par with his and you are ready to run, you can expect quite a few open transition layups this season.

2) Ginobili makes some crazy passes. Whether it's a drive and dish, a kick out or a no-look-pass and if you aren't aware, the ball might find its way right in your face or sail out of bounds. Bottom line is you have to be ready for his passes whether you are lining up for a jump shot or cutting into the lane.

3) Duncan knows a thing or two about passing the basketball. He's good at passing the ball out of the double team so be ready for some open jumpers and if the opportunity present itself for a fast break layup watch out for one of his "touch down" passes. It's right on the money.

Many people believe you can provide an immediate impact. If you can score and shoot for the Spurs like you did in college then this team will be a lot better than most people expected. You are not known for defense, but your size and athletic ability suggest you can be a good defender if not a stopper. I'm sure the Spurs will instill in you a mindset of playing 'D' at all times. Playing with the "Big Three" will present a lot of scoring opportunity on offense but keep in mind the Spurs play hard on defense as well. Best of luck!

Neal:

1) If Ginobili continues to come off the bench, expect a lot of minutes with him on the floor. Be aware he is very good at passing the ball so watch out for the kick out and some crazy behind the backs or no-look-passes from time to time.

2) With Parker, find your way to the corners as he will look to dish out some passes for you to nail the corner three-point shot. Ask former Spurs Bruce Bowen and Roger Mason Jr.

3) As I mentioned before, Duncan is one of the best passing bigs and if he's posting up in the paint, it might be beneficial to line up at one of the corners for a three-point shot. He will draw in the double and this will get you some open looks. Just knock down your shots. Ask George Hill, Matt Bonner, Robert Horry, Bowen or even Steve Kerr.

I was impressed by your play at the 2010 NBA Las Vegas Summer League and your credentials overseas speak for itself. If you can shoot the ball the way you did in Las Vegas, Spurs fans will quickly forget about Roger Mason Jr. If they haven't already. You are NBA ready and your vast basketball experience will help you adjust quickly. Just keep shooting and knock those shots down.

With opposing teams usually focused on stopping Duncan, Parker and Ginobili all you new guys should grab the opportunity and make them pay on the offensive end of the floor.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that the Spurs are known for their defense. Focusing your skills and abilities on defense will surely get you more minutes in coach Popovich's rotation. It's too early to tell and I haven't seen you guys play on the court with the Spurs yet but with your basketball skills and potentials, I have high hopes and very excited for the new season to start. I'm pretty sure most Spurs fans are too! I'm keeping the faith that title # 5 will be well within reach before Duncan and Ginobili call it quits with some help from all three of you. 

Thoughts? Do you have some more friendly advice for the new Spurs?

After a stellar performance with the San Antonio Spurs' 2010 Summer League squad, the Spurs signed Gary Neal to a three-year deal. Now he is excited to be in the NBA fulfilling his dream.

In an interview with thetowerlight.com, Neal spoke about the Spurs and being in the NBA. Here is what he had to say on being with the Spurs:

“They have the cool and the calmness about them,” Neal said. “When you’re a guy like me coming into my situation- a new environment, a new city, a new community, a new team, a new system – it always helps to have older, veteran guys who are good guys, good players that have good social skills and can relate things that you may be doing wrong. They can relay it to you in a positive manner that way you can pick it up better.”

On working hard to reach his goal of playing in the NBA:

“If you’re a guy that goes as hard as you can go in the weight room and the conditioning and with the basketball skill workout, as far as shooting jump shots or working on your ball handling, it just carries over into a game,” he said. “I don’t know too many guys who don’t have great work ethic and can produce night in and night out at a high level. It just doesn’t work that way. You get out what you put in.”

“This is something that since I was six years old, this was my goal- to play in the NBA,” he said. “I’m excited just to have the experience to play in the NBA and to have the experience to play in front of my family. It’s been about three or four years since my family’s seen me play a live game. So it’s just an experience that I’m really, really excited about and I can’t really wait until the first game that I put on a uniform and run on the court.”

I was in Las Vegas and was able to see Neal's game up close. He has a deadly shooting touch and a quick release. My concern is that his play was against summer league talent. How will he fair playing against top NBA defenders remains to be seen. Plus he will have to work on defense but if he shoots the ball the way he did in Las Vegas, I am sure he will get minutes on the floor.

Roger Mason Jr. and Michael Finley were not great defenders but when they made shots, they got minutes. Same can be true for Neal.