LAS VEGAS -- In the 2005 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected Ian Mahinmi from France with their first round pick. This left many Spurs fans scratching their heads. Many questioned who he was and why the Spurs drafted him. He even wasn't listed among the 128 players in the league's draft guide.

As Spurs fans got to see him play in the 2006 Rocky Mountain Review and in the D-League with the Austin Toros, they saw an atheletic freak which left them yearning for him joining Tim Duncan in the post.

Then came the injuries, the constant send backs to the Austin Toros, fouling out of games, all which led to the frustration of Spurs fans and may have led to the Spurs announcing they would not be picking up the last year of his contract.

With things not working out well for Mahinmi in San Antonio, he made the decision to sign with the Dallas Mavericks as a free-agent this summer and is ready to begin a new chapter in his NBA career.

While I was at the 2010 Summer League, I got a chance to talk to Mahinmi about his time with the Spurs, joining the Mavericks, and more.

During my interview with him, I did notice that despite how things turned out for him with the Spurs, he knows where it all began for him and appreciated every moment, "Those three years with the Spurs were unbelievable," Mahinmi said when I asked him about his time in San Antonio, "I improved a lot every year. Even though I broke my ankle three years ago, I still improved. Its been a long process and I think the main thing I learned from the Spurs is that toughness, that mental toughness of the game. To make sure what you are doing on defense and do it everyday."

Though Mahinmi has been in the NBA for three years, he is fully aware the journey to becoming a better player is still a work in process and that process couldn't have started better for the young player than to have Spurs forward, Tim Duncan, to learn from.

Now he will be playing with another great forward in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki, and he is looking forward to that learning experience, "Its great for me. It's great to be around those guys and I think that will pay off. If I keep working and I keep listening to those vets. It’s a very great experience for me being able to play alongside two great guys like that."

Credit Mahinmi for knowing it took more than just Duncan to learn from. He recognized the other players he was with in San Antonio who helped his development, "But I played with many great guys like Robert Horry, (Antonio) McDyess. It was just great for my experience."

Now he is taking the lessons learned in San Antonio to Dallas, “My main thing is to keep improving. Keep helping my team no matter what I got to do," said Mahinmi when I asked him what he is looking forward to as a new member of the Mavericks.

“I just want to keep improving on another winning team. I just want to win some more. I think we got a great organization. I got great teammates like Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, (Jason) Terry, Rodrigue Beubouis, Dirk (Nowitzki). There's good players all over the place. I think we got a good group of guys and we are very talented. I am looking forward to next season and I am going to do everything I can to help my team win.”

However, there is one date he is going to circle on his calendar once the 2010-2011 NBA season schedule is released, "You look forward to those games,” said Mahinmi when I asked him about the first game he will play against the Spurs next season, “I really got great memories, three great years. Its going to be weird to go to the visitors locker room in the AT&T Center. As a matter of fact I never been in there!”

“I am just looking forward to that game when I go play the Spurs and hopefully we do good and we win. Now I am all the way with the Mavs. If we (Mavericks) can beat them (Spurs) by 40 let’s do it!"

And if the visitor's locker room in the AT&T Centeris going to be a new experience for him, he is also joining the other side of the heated Spurs-Mavericks rivalry, “Its especially weird," Mahinmi told Project Spurs when asked about joining the Dallas side of the rivalry, "The first time I wore my blue jersey … I'm just used to that black and silver jersey. I told my trainer, 'It's funny, everything is weird, everything is blue!' But after a while, I’m used to it and I like it.”

Mahinmi is ready to prove himself after being unable to showcase his talents in San Antonio. He has the skill set to be a solid NBA player and while some Spurs fans feel he was a draft day bust, he holds no ill will towards them and wishes the Spurs a good season, “I hope they (Spurs) have a great season next year. I hope the Spurs organization gives a good show to the Spurs fans because they deserve it. They been very great to me. They are very great fans and I think the Mavs have great fans too.”

Of course during my interview with Mahinmi, he showed he is ready when it comes to joining the Mavericks side of the rivalry, “Hopefully we will meet in the playoffs next season and we can beat them!”

After an impressive showing at the 2010 NBA Summer league, the San Antonio Spurs have signed Gary Neal to a three year deal according to Draft Express.

Neal's performance in Las Vegas opened eyes who were in attendance especially after his 26 point game outburst against the Memphis Grizzlies where he connected on 6-10 three-point shots.

With Neal signed, this adds another guard to the Spurs team. The team now has a log jam at the position with Tony Parker, George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Anderson, and Manu Ginobili. The odd player out could be Hairston unless Neal is sent to the Austin Toros.

While I was at the Summer League, Neal showed he is a steady shooter in most of the games and was the leading scorer for the Spurs averaging 16 points on 50% shooting from both the field and the three-point line.

The San Antonio Spurs have officially announced they have re-signed Richard Jefferson:

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have re-signed Richard Jefferson. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. (spurs.com)

Many around the NBA celebrated the Spurs trading for Jefferson and felt he was the missing piece to push the team into serious title contention and possibly dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers.

However as the season progressed, Jefferson looked lost in the Spurs system and in the end drew the ire of Spurs fans and most calling the trade a "bust." Jefferson averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds during the regular season. A drop in his production while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2008-2009 NBA season.

His numbers also dipped during the playoffs, where he averaged 9.4 points a game. Such production was not smiled upon by fans especially considering he was receiving close to $15 million last season.

While Spurs fans may not be celebrating his re-signing, he was one of the better free agents that was left on the market at his position.

Though terms of the deal were not disclosed, it has been reported the new deal will keep the Spurs under the luxury tax threshold.

UPDATE:

The breakdown of Jefferson's deal is for four years at $39 million dollars. The breakdown is as follows: $8.4 million in 2011, $9.3 million in 2012, $10.2 million in 2013, and $11 million in 2014,with the final year partially guaranteed. (source Express News)

Dell Demps, San Antonio Spurs vice president of basketball operations, has agreed to join the New Orleans Hornets as their new General Manager according to the Associated Press:

A person familiar with the hiring says Dell Demps has agreed to become the New Orleans Hornets' next general manager.

The person, who spoke to The Associated Press late Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the hiring had not been formally announced, says the move is expected to become official on Wednesday.

Demps will join head coach of the Hornets and former Spur, Monty Williams, in New Orleans.

San Antonio remains one of the top spots to work to open doors for other positions in the NBA. Ask Danny Ferry, Sam Presti, Avery Johnson, Monty Williams, Kevin Pritchard, and the list goes on and on.

LAS VEGAS -- The San Antonio Spurs have been seeking that reliable shooter to add to the team for some time. Whether it be through free-agency with Roger Mason Jr., trades which netted them Matt Bonner or through the draft as in this year with James Anderson.

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs drafted guard Jack McClinton out of Miami. Known for his deadly shooting touch, the Spurs felt they found another steal late in the draft.

Spurs' G.M. R.C. Buford praised his ability to shoot the ball, Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich praised his defense and Buford said he would be getting playing time along side Tony Parker and George Hill.

Then came the summer of 2009.

McClinton had a chance to show he really had what it takes to make it in the NBA at the 2009 NBA Summer League. Unfortunately he had a forgettable performance in Las Vegas.

He went scoreless in two of the last three games of the summer league and scored two points in the final game against the New Orleans Hornets. He averaged 2.6 points, and 1.6 assists and shot 21.7% from the field. A far cry from his shooting average in Miami which was at 43%.

If that wasn't enough, when the Spurs signed veteran guard Keith Bogans, McClinton felt he would not get playing time and requested the Spurs to release him. The Spurs obliged. The Minnesota Timberwolves would then sign him but again he would be released and would end up playing in Turkey.

While I was in Las Vegas for the 2010 NBA Summer League, I caught up with McClinton, who was a member of the Chicago Bulls Summer League team, and spoke with him about what he has been doing since his time with the Spurs.

"Being overseas really humbles you," McClinton said about playing in Turkey, "Let's you know how bad you really want to get back into the NBA."

It is this humbling experience which is pushing him to get back into the NBA and prove what happened last summer with the Spurs was not indicative of himself as a player.

"I didn't play that many minutes but when I was out there I made the best of it," McClinton said about playing with the Bulls summer league team, "You never know what's going to happened. There's so many players coming from different places. It's a humbling experience and I think I got better."

For McClinton, like all young players who ever goes through the Spurs system, he took lessons learned from his time in San Antonio not only overseas but now as he continues to develop his game in the hopes of making an NBA team, "Just that you got to be very responsible in the NBA and put that work in. Waking up early, leaving the gym late," said McClinton about what he learned when he spent time with the Spurs.

"It's just back to basics. You got to have that open ear to listen. There were a lot of vets there (San Antonio) so I was just listening to those guys and trying to learn from them."

When the Spurs drafted him, one position the team wanted him to develop was playing point guard. A position he was not accustomed to and might have been a huge factor for his performance with the Spurs summer league team.

Back then he knew it was an adjustment for him to but feels he has improved, "I think I really gotten better at that position. Playing in the Summer League I got into the lane, made some plays for others so that was a plus."

Though McClinton did not continue his basketball career with the Spurs, he has show the fortitude to not give up his dream of playing in the NBA and improving his game. He averaged 4.4 points, 1.2 assists, and shot 32% from the field in 14.2 minutes with the Bulls summer league team. In his last game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he finished with 12 points, three assists, two steals, and went 4/4 from the free-throw line

He has been in San Antonio, Minnesota, and in Turkey and it came full circle to where it all began for him one year ago in Las Vegas. He shown his game has improved and he won't let set-backs get in the way of his dream.

In the interview he told me he will now speak to his agent and go from there. Let's hope he goes from Turkey and back into the NBA soon.

Since signing Tiago Splitter, the Spurs have been very quiet on the free agent front, while several of their rumored interests started signing and dropping like flies with other teams.

But one free agent, although rumored to have drawn interest from several teams, has yet to sign anywhere.

Richard Jefferson, who opted out of a guaranteed $15 million next season, should be back in the silver & black soon.

ESPN's Marc Stein says it'll happen this week.

Some dribbles of gossip from the front-office grapevine as we transition from summer league to Team USA training camp in the desert:

This is the week, by all accounts, that San Antonio and Richard Jefferson will complete the restructured deal that we’ve all assumed had to be forthcoming...The specifics in terms of years and dollars remain unknown, but I’ve been assured that Jefferson will officially be back with the Spurs quite soon.

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News says Jefferson will be signing tomorrow.

Free agent forward Richard Jefferson is en route to San Antonio this afternoon, where he is set to sign a long-term contract with the Spurs on Wednesday.

Details of the new deal are not yet available, but his salary next season will be well below the $15.2 million he would have been guaranteed had he not opted out of the final season of his contract with the Spurs on June 30.

Jefferson, who Spurs fans considered the bust of last summer's offseason acquisitions, averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds during the regular season. His numbers took a hit during the playoffs, where he averaged 9.4 points a game.

While he has drawn the ire of Spurs fans, he is likely one of the better free agents left on the market at his position, and his signing will reportedly keep the Spurs under the luxury tax threshold.

In an interview with esporte.ig.com.br, San Antonio Spurs' center, Tiago Splitter, was asked about finally joining the Spurs, and much more:

P - Only after three years of his employment that you decided to go to the NBA. Why? 

R - I had a contract in Europe that had to comply. But thinking about basketball, I matured a lot [in Europe], I could improve my game, I managed to win both individual and collective titles. I was very happy to have been these three years in Europe and improved my game.  

Q - What are the difficulties you expect to find in his first season in the NBA?

R - Obviously I need some time to adapt. It is normal after so many years playing in Europe. Moving to the North American league, where there is this difference. When you can adapt myself, I will not have any problem because I have total support of technicians and leaders of San Antonion. As for the game in the NBA he is much faster in transition. Some rules may, in Spain, in Europe, is allowed much more contact. In the NBA, the defense that is very different, is no longer any contact. So I have to learn to defend, to do the locks on the attack because they are very different in the NBA.

 Q - How are you imagining your start? Will leave the bank or will be one of the holders of the team?

R - To tell the truth, I'm not thinking about that yet. First I have to work, I have to train. I need to play well to get my minutes. This is normal, it will be my first year there. The same illusion that I had when I was 15 and went to Europe I am now, waiting, eager to begin training.

The one thing which stands out for me is how Splitter acknowledges he is starting over and is humbled enough to know there is an established leadership core with the Spurs. He recognizes he has to work to earn minutes on the court and nothing will be handed to him. Very impressive from the MVP and champion from Caja Laboral.

Click HERE for the complete interview.

LAS VEGAS -- While I was at the 2010 Summer League, most of the buzz focused on which players were making an impression on the court. From Jeremy Lin who impressed many with his performance against Washington Wizard's John Wall to John Wall himself who showed why he was drafted number one in the 2010 NBA Draft.

However, another player who was also mentioned among the buzz was Alonzo Gee of the San Antonio Spurs.

Gee impressed many in the stands including fellow media members sitting in press row. One stated he could be starting for the Spurs in a few years. He displayed a great all around game. Offensively he was getting to the rim and hitting his outside shot as in the game against the Atlanta Hawks where he scored 24 points. On the defensive end he showed a knack for steals including four against the Hawks and three in the last game of the Summer League against the Memphis Grizzlies.

He even impressed Spurs forward, DeJuan Blair, "He has been playing excellent. I think that's our team MVP right now. I can say a lot about him."

Still, he knows he has further development to become an impact player for the Spurs, "The defensive end and keep rebounding and make my open shots. That's what they (Spurs) want me to do," said Gee when I asked him about the areas he still needs to develop.

It is refreshing to see a young player embrace the fact development is still needed but it's not just what Gee has to do on the court. He is fully aware of a great opportunity he has playing for the Spurs and knows not to squander it including taking advantage of the veterans on the Spurs roster, "I talk to everybody. You can get information or whatever you need from all the guys. They are all helpful."

Last season, when Gee was signed by the Washington Wizards, many Spurs fans felt as if another solid young player just slipped away. Perhaps the Spurs organization felt the same. Just as soon as he was signed by Washington, they released him and the Spurs swooped and signed him to a contract. Gee recognized this, "I was in Washington, then got to be with the Spurs and be with them in the playoffs. It's just a great opportunity to be with the organization."

Last season he did not get much time on the court with the Spurs but after his impressive play in the Summer League (averaged 14.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.8 assists) it wouldn't be a stretch to see him get a new opportunity with the Spurs and that's minutes on the court as a major contributor.

We were live for the first time this summer yesterday, and while you may have missed on an excellent opportunity to ask a question to one of the players live, we do have the archived audio file for you.

Shortly after the Spurs' route of the Memphis Grizzlies to go a perfect 5-0 in Summer League, we reviewed the game and a few players and then brought on our own Jeff Garcia, who was representing Project Spurs at the Thomas and Mack Center at UNLV for the last two games.

Jeff gave us some great insight and answered our questions having been up close and personal and have access to all of the summer league players. We discussed several players, especially Alonzo Gee and Gary Neal.

We also talked to Garrett Temple and got his thoughts on how his team played without him, how his ankle injury is healing and if he was looking forward to training camp.

If you get a chance, thank Jeff for flying out to Vegas on his own dime to cover this for us and bringing all Spurs fans exclusive interviews.

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