In part three of "The San Antonio Spurs Family Tree" series, let's take a look at those who were once a Spur or worked for the team in the front-office and their success, or lack thereof, after leaving San Antonio.

It's no secret, the Spurs organization is a breeding ground for quality front-office personnel. Time after time, if there is a front-office vacancy on an NBA team, chances are someone from the Spurs will be a top candidate.

And who can blame those teams for looking at the Spurs' talent-pool? The franchise is considered the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to finding talent late in the draft or overseas. Not to mention the quality people who make up the organization, forge a title contending team every season.

Now let's look at four ex-members of the Spurs and how they did as General Managers after leaving San Antonio.

Steve Kerr

Kerr played for the Spurs from 1998 to 2001 and again in the 2002-2003 season. He won two NBA titles while he was in San Antonio (1999 and 2003). He retired after the 2003 season and would be best known as a dependable bench player who could make jump shots and three-pointers in critical moments. But was he a good GM?

On June 2, 2007, Kerr announced his departure from broadcasting to assume duties as the President and GM of the Suns starting in the 2007-2008’ season. Only four months into his new role as GM, he would complete a blockbuster trade that would land all-star center Shaquille O’Neal in Phoenix in the hopes of finally defeating the Spurs in the playoffs. The acquisition did not end the way Kerr imagined. O'Neal was not enough as the Suns lost to the Spurs in the first-round of 2007 NBA playoffs.

Determined to make something work, in December of 2008, Kerr made another trade for Jason Richarson and Jared Dudley. That year the Suns did not make the playoffs and Kerr traded yet again.

Although the Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals in the 2009-2010 season, and finally defeated the Spurs, Kerr stepped down as the Suns' President and GM on June 15th, 2010.

With Kerr as the President and GM, the Suns had a regular season record of 155-91 (.630 winning percentage) and a post season record of 11-10 (.520 winning percentage).

Sam Presti

Presti held various jobs with the Spurs, including Assistant General Manager for two years. He was actively involved in everything the Spurs did in the years he was with the organization when it came to player movement. He was credited for convincing the Spurs to draft Tony Parker and that was just the one of his many brilliant moves. Well maybe not drafting Ian Mahinmi.

On June 7, 2007 the Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) hired him as their GM and he wasted no time getting to work.

His first move was drafting University of Texas standout, Kevin Durant and then trading Ray Allen in exchange for Jeff Green. Durant and Green would go on to make the All-Rookie team that season.

Presti’s continuous impressive moves with the Thunder has caught the attention of the rest of the NBA and the Thunders' future is looking pretty bright. Just this past NBA Draft, he was able to bolster the Thunder's frontcourt by trading for Cole Aldrich from the New Orleans Hornets for basically peanuts.

The team is on the verge of becoming an NBA elite team and Presti deserves every bit of credit.

Kevin Pritchard

Pritchard started out as the Spurs' scout but would eventually move on to the Portland Trail Blazers where he was hired to be the Director of Player Personnel.

In 2006 he was promoted to Assistant General Manager and made many notable moves for the Trail Blazers that year. He is responsible for bringing in key contributors like Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge just to name a couple of players.

Just one year later Pritchard would earn yet another promotion -- General Manager.

In 2007 with the first overall pick, he selected Greg Oden, a move that has not worked out and left some to speculate could have been the reason he was let go from the team.

His release on June 24, 2010 from Portland was done in an unfavorable manner. It was during the 2010 NBA Draft that the Trail Blazers told him he would be let go after his duties were done that night during the draft. No reasons were ever given as to why Portland let him go.

With Prichard’s experience and proven track record it is just a matter of time before another team scoops him up and offers him a job.

Dell Demps

Demps played for the Spurs during the 1995-1996 season. He then joined the New York Knicks as a scout for the 2003-2004 season and was promoted to Director of Player Personnel after the 2004-2005 season before joining the Spurs in the fall of 2005.

Since 2005 until last week, Demps was the VP of Basketball Operations for the Spurs and GM for the Austin Toros, the Spurs D-League affiliate. He was responsible for developing talent in Austin such as Alonzo Gee and helped find a gem of a player late in the NBA Draft by the name of George Hill.

Demps was recently hired to become the New Orleans Hornets GM and his former boss, Spurs' GM R.C. Buford, had this to say:

“We are all very excited for this opportunity for Dell and his family. Having worked closely with both Dell and Monty, I’m confident that they will provide great leadership to the Hornets’ franchise. Dell has been a trusted confidant and an integral part of our organization. While we will all miss him, we are thrilled for Dell and wish him success in New Orleans.”

As you can see, the Spurs have given the NBA quality coaches and front-office personnel. After winning four NBA titles and being a perennial playoff team, it's no wonder why other teams seek out a piece of the Spurs' winning formula.

I suppose imitation is the best form of flattery.

According to a report from ESPN's Outside the Lines, a vendor inspection report was done among NBA teams and the AT&T Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs, scored among the worst in the NBA when it comes to food violations.

AT&T Center
San Antonio Spurs
Vendors with critical violations: 48%
Inspection report excerpt: Inspectors found 18 pounds of hot dogs that had expired more than 10 days prior.

Granted this is bad but it could be worse. The Denver Nuggets had violations for phorid flies, sometimes called coffin flies, in a bottle of cognac.

So the next time you are at a Spurs game, you want to rethink buying that hot dog.

When San Antonio Spurs’ guards, Tony Parker and George Hill, suffered injuries in the last season, the Spurs signed Garrett Temple out of the D-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers, to a 10-day contract to help fill the void at the point guard position.

Many Spurs fans were left scratching their heads as to who was Temple and did he have what it takes to step in for players such as Parker and Hill? Those questions were answered immediately when Hill suffered a late season injury and Temple got his first NBA start against the Sacramento Kings.

Stepping in for Hill, Temple poured in 15 points, 4 assist, and 3 rebounds, in 27 minutes of play against the Kings helping the Spurs secure the win. Even after that great performance, he showed what really mattered, the team, "The biggest thing honestly is that we get the win no matter if I had two points, seven turnovers. As long as we won the game, that's the big thing."

In all, he played a total of 13 regular season games and averaged 6.2 points, shot 43.8 from the field in 14.8 minutes per game. Not bad for someone who has been bounced around in the NBA playing for the Kings, Houston Rockets and been in D-League. Not to mention producing for a championship team like the Spurs late in the season when the team was making a playoff push.

While I was at the 2010 NBA Summer League I caught up with Temple to get his thoughts on his goals for the upcoming season and much more.

"Get healthy and learn as much as I can from the coaching staff. To get back in shape and just stay confident and do whatever they need me to do to be a part of the team next year," said Temple on his immediate goals for the summer.


However, in Las Vegas, Temple suffered an ankle injury which would end his summer league run and ultimately leave him in a cast and crutches. Obviously he was upset about the injury but he has his sights trained on what he needs to improve upon next season and speaking to him, I can sense he is ready to prove last season’s performance was no fluke.

With that, I asked him if there is anything else he wants to focus on in the offseason, "To be more comfortable at the point guard position. Learn to play the point guard more. Maybe learn the two a little more," said Temple, "Become a combo guy. Be a guy that can guard the point and the two slot and just go out there and be a guy they (Spurs) can really count on to do the little things."

Temple talked a lot about improving his game. Good thing for him he has the fortune to learn from two great NBA guards like Parker and Hill. He recognizes those two players as valuable assets to his growth but there is one person who still chimes in to help him and that’s his father, and former Spur, Collis Temple Jr., "He does give me daily advice. It’s great to have a guy like that who has done it before. He is really behind me.”

Even though Temple has shown he can play in the NBA, I came away with the feeling he is humble and modest about his accomplishments. He has worked every day to get into the position he is in now with the Spurs and he is taking full advantage.

As for his injury, Temple told me it is progressing, he is going to rehabilitation and following doctor's orders. He is determined to get back on the court as soon as possible.

It this determination combined with his drive, desire to improve, and workman like approach which has won over Spurs fans but more importantly, has won over Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich who once jokingly said, "Garrett what's his name?" to now becoming his new favorite player.

I doubt Spurs fan are left scratching their heads now about Temple anymore.

By now, Spurs fans have heard the news of former San Antonio Spurs' V.P. of Basketball Operations and GM of the Austin Toros, Dell Demps, moving on to become the GM of the New Orleans Hornets.

However, during the 2010 NBA Summer League, Demps spoke with Matt Moore of Fanhouse, to talk about Alonzo Gee, George Hill, the Spurs and more. It would be his final weekend working with the Spurs.

Demps on Gee:

"With Alonzo his upside is through the roof. As a credit to him, he really bought into our development plan. It's a testament to the teaching of our coaches in Austin and with the Spurs to make him into a good player. I'm really happy for him because he understood what he needed to do to get better, and everything he was asked, he did it, and did it a high level."

Demps on Hill:

"George is great. He jumped into the developmental plan and made himself a great player. Our coaches have done a great job with him. Can't be happier for the kid. He's a great kid. High level NBA player and we're happy for him, in any situation."

Demps move will be felt throughout the Spurs organization. He was instrumental in developing players for Spurs and definitely deserved the opportunity in New Orleans.

To read the complete interview, click HERE.

According to sports.walla.co, Tyler Wilkerson, who played with the San Antonio Spurs' summer league team, will sign with the Israeli team, Galil Gilboa, if the Spurs do not offer him a contract.

Wilkerson, a forward, averaged 11 points per game with the Spurs during the Summer League.

(h/t Ridiculous Upside)

In a recent interview with ESPN Brazil, San Antonio Spurs' center, Tiago Splitter, spoke about his road to the Spurs and how he feels to be with the team after three years have past since being drafted by the Spurs.

Splitter on staying overseas the first time he had a chance to join the Spurs:

"In 2007, I still had a one year contract with Caja Laboral and even though I drafted the San Antonio had no right to get me out of the European team, so I decided to stay there. The following year I had the opportunity to come to San Antonio, but the Caja did a very good offer, both sporting and financially, and I decided to stay another two years there."

Splitter on the Spurs:

"Everyone knows the quality of San Antonio. They are experienced players and maybe at the end of last season has missed a bit of gas. So their solution was to try to renew this year the team and one of these options was to hire me. In the end everything went well and was good for me. Both I and the other players that are coming, are players who will contribute with a lot of energy to the team, beyond the experience of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, etc, "he explained.

To read the complete article, click HERE.

In the 2010 World Championships in Turkey, Argentina will be without Manu Ginobili. While the Argentinian national team and Argentinian fans would have preferred Ginobili to play, he insists the San Antonio Spurs did not influence his decision to sit out this summer's games:

The basketball star Emanuel Ginobili said that his club, San Antonio Spurs, not pressured him to avoid playing for the national team and pointed out that clarified the issue before renewing his contract.

 "One feels, at times, a sense of responsibility because they pay us," he said.

"There is no obligation, at least I did not feel it."

Ginobili has stated the reason he will not play for Argentina this summer is beacuse he wants to spend time with his newborn children and to rest. Many Spurs fans were relived to hear he is going to sit out this summer as I am sure the Spurs organization were relieved as well. He isn't getting younger and all the rest will do him and the Spurs wonders this upcoming NBA season.

However, he has stated he will play for Argentina in the 2012 Olympic games and the Olympic qualifier in Mar de Plata should Argentina not qualify in Turkey this summer.

(source eldia.com)

According to tubasket.com, Greek team, Panathinaikos is looking to add San Antonio Spurs' 2009 NBA Draft pick and current Valencia Power Electronics guard, Nando De Colo, to their team and the two sides are in negotiations:

"El Panathinaikos quiere a De Colo y estamos negociando. El jugador quiere ir, es la oportunidad de su vida de jugar en ese gran equipo. Hablamos con el Valencia para encontrar una solución"

"The Panathinaikos wants to De Colo and we are negotiating. The player wants to go, is the opportunity of a lifetime to play in this great team. We talked with Valencia to find a solution."

De Colo averaged 13.2 points for Valencia and Spurs' G.M., R.C. Buford, has said De Colo has made significant progress but still is taking a "wait-and-see" approach as to when De Colo will come to the Spurs.

With many players changing teams this offseason throughout the NBA, a lot of teams may have improved on paper. The San Antonio Spurs have done their share of player movement by adding Tiago Splitter, James Anderson, Gary Neal and re-signing Matt Bonner and Richard Jefferson. Also, it's still possible the team might add a piece or two before their summer is done.

But what about the rest of the Southwest Division? Did those teams make moves which could spell trouble for the Spurs in the upcoming season? Let's find out.

New Orleans Hornets

Roster wise this team is the same as last year. Their summer work has been so far highlighted by hiring former Spurs Monty Williams as their new coach and Dell Demps as their new GM. Despite Chris Paul's trade request, it is highly unlikely that the Hornets will grant his wish with two more years left in his contract. Also if there should be a Paul trade, Emeka Okafor's contract will be required as part of the trade which will not be an easy task to move.

How they stack up? Paul remains one of the best point guards in the NBA. Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton round out a deadly rotation of combo guards. However, with David West and Okafor upfront, this team needs more size in the middle.

Memphis Grizzlies

This team has a nice young core in Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, O.J. Mayo, and Mike Conley. They have a big front court combo with Zach Randolph and Hasheem Thabeet. The addition of defensive stopper Tony Allen was an "under-the-radar" type signing which could do wonders for this young team to add a seasoned veteran like Allen. Of course their draft picks of Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez might also help.

How they stack up? A young and athletic team that should be an exciting team to watch. If Gay and Mayo can continue to provide the offense with Gasol and Randolph operating inside the paint, this team might surprise a lot of people next season. Especially if Thabeet finally grasps how to play in the NBA.

Houston Rockets

A gritty veteran team that plays hard every game. Luis Scola, Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier and Aaron Brooks are solid players. Key for this team is how Yao Ming will play after coming back from injury last season. They also fortified their front court with the acquisition of Brad Miller and rookie Patrick Paterson.

How they stack up? With their main core intact, expect one thing from the Rockets -- hard fought games. Their front court is a combination of hard working big men and imposing length. Stopping Houston's inside game could be a problem for most teams.

Dallas Mavericks

This is a team loaded with offensive weapons. Dirk Nowitzki remains one of the best scorers in the league while Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion are nice supporting casts. Getting Tyson Chandler from the Charlotte Bobcats gives them more length and athletic ability up front. Also their draft pick, Dominique Jones, who can create his own shot, will be a nice addition to the Mavericks. There are also rumors that Tim Thomas wants to get back with the team.

How they stack up? The Mavericks are loaded with talent. However, with all this firepower, defense will be key. They have a bunch of scorers, explosive bench and a real deep front-line which includes Haywood, Chandler, Ian Mahinmi and Alex Ajinca. If they can improve on their defense, with Nowitzki, Butler, Terry and Marion taking care of the offense, they could be a very tough team to beat.

What it means for the San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs will be in for some tough competition in the division this upcoming season. The Southwest Division remains one of the toughest division in the entire NBA and the divisional rivalry in the Southwest could be a fierce one in the upcoming season.

Ranking the South West

The Mavericks won the division last year and with their new lineup, they could do it again this coming season. The Rockets are a hard-working, solid veteran team, the Grizzlies could have a breakout season and the Hornets are facing a lot of on and off court distractions at the moment with Paul demanding a trade.

The Spurs still have Duncan, Ginobili and Parker and are their offseason player movements will help out in their push for a fifth NBA title.

Having said that, barring serious injuries from each of the teams, the Southwest Division could end up like this: Mavericks, Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies and Hornets in that order.

But come playoff time, it might be a different story. Remember what happened during the first round of the playoffs last season? I am sure Mavericks fans don't want to remember.

What do you guys think? Give us your take and send us your own rankings.

According to www.pittsburghlive.com, the San Antonio Spurs will play a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Pittsburgh, the home of Spurs' forward, DeJuan Blair:

Blair and the San Antonio Spurs are slated to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in a preseason NBA game in mid-October at Petersen Events Center, according to multiple sources.

The official date will be announced when the NBA preseason schedules are released in mid-August.

The Spurs have released their home preseason game schedule but not their away game schedule. However, aside from the game in Pittsburgh, the Spurs will play an away game in Mexico against the Los Angeles Clippers.