Former NBA player, Von Wafer, recently had a free-agent workout with the San Antonio Spurs at a free-agent camp:
"I went to San Antonio's free agent workout and it was pretty intense," he told HOOPSWORLD. "We had two workouts and I've been working out on my own and just getting stronger every day. I feel good."
The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets have each expressed some interest in Wafer. (source HoopsWorld)
Wafer played in Greece with Olympiakos and paid his own but-out clause in the hopes of sticking with an NBA team.
According to ESPN's J.A. Adande the San Antonio Spurs submitted a trade proposal for Toronto Raptor's free-agent, Chris Bosh but the Raptors passed on the proposal:
The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are believed to have submitted trade proposals for Bosh to the Raptors, and apparently none has impressed Toronto.
Got to wonder what the Spurs offered in a trade for Bosh.
As reported earlier, San Antonio Spurs' free-agent, Roger Mason Jr., has received interest from the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and the New York Knicks. Now add the Portland Trailblazers.
According to oregonlive.com, the Blazers are interested in Mason:
The Trail Blazers are actively pursuing trades, according to various agents around the league, but they are also probing for free agent guards, one of which is former San Antonio shooter Roger Mason.
"We've talked quite a bit,'' agent Mark Bartelstein said. "There are ongoing conversations.''
"He played hurt a lot,'' Bartelstein said. "But he is a valuable piece because he can play both guard positions.''
According to Yahoo! Sports, San Antonio Spurs' free-agent, Roger Mason Jr., is reportedly receiving attention from several teams:
San Antonio Spurs free-agent guard Roger Mason Jr. is receiving interest from Chicago, Miami, New York and the Los Angeles Clippers. Teams see him as an affordable shooter to add alongside a top free agent.
With a drop in minutes and an injury last season, Mason could not find a rhythm and contribute to the team as he did in his first season with the Spurs. He also wanted a trade out of San Antonio in hopes of getting more minutes on the court with another team.
Since the beginning of the off-season, San Antonio Spurs' guard, Tony Parker, has been mentioned in trade rumors with the New York Knicks. Add another Parker to Knicks rumor to the list.
With reports stating the Knicks are close to signing free-agent Amar'e Stoudamire, could Parker be next for the Knicks?
According to the nydailynews.com, Parker and Stoudemire are scheming to play together in New York:
When it dawns on Amar'e Stoudemire that he'll no longer be running the pick-and-roll with Steve Nash, he might not want to join the Knicks. That's why it's Donnie Walsh's job to find Stoudemire a running mate and the player expected to be targeted is Tony Parker.
As the Daily News reported in April, the Spurs' point guard is hoping to be traded to the Knicks and has long wanted to play with Stoudemire. A person close to both players said Stoudemire and Parker hatched a plan to join forces in either Miami or New York.
"It's perfect for Tony because he wants to be in New York and he wants to play with Amar'e," said the source.
Parker is under contract with the Spurs and if a move were to happen, it must be through a trade.
If the report is true, then the likely candidate would be Knicks' free-agent David Lee in a sign-and-trade. However, reports state Lee is leaning towards signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Although the Spurs would like more in return for Parker should he be traded to New York, the Knicks do have Eddy Curry's expiring contract which is at $11.2 million dollars which could be enticing for the Spurs who could be looking for salary-cap relief.
San Antonio Spurs' assistant coach, Don Newman, took part in the 2010 Basketball Without Borders Asia camp which was sponsored by the NBA. Newman coached the White Team in the All-Star game beating the Red Team, coached by former NBA player Bob McAdoo.
In the end, the White Team led by Don Newman (San Antonio Spurs) and Bob McAdoo (Miami Heat) claimed victory over the Red Team, winning 70-58. The teams were locked until the final quarter when the White Team took the initiative to build an unassailable lead.
Also taking part in the camp as coaches were Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks, and Taj Gibson of the Chicago Bulls.
San Antonio Spurs' fans were shocked when Richard Jefferson opted out of his contract which would have paid him $15.2 million dollars . . . guaranteed!
With their second round selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Ryan Richards. A 7'0" big man out of England. Fulfilling a well-known expectation of the Spurs to draft overseas players, Spurs' G.M. R.C. Buford and company chose a relatively unknown commodity by selecting Richards. Though unproven, it seems many of the experts like what they see.
Richards hasn't played much professional basketball in Europe. At 19, his resume includes two years in a Spanish amateur league, a year of professional basketball in Belgium, and six games with BBC Monthey in Switzerland. In those six games he averaged slightly more than 13 points per game on 56 % field goal shooting and, get ready for this Spurs fans, 91.3% from the free-throw line.
Here is how one NBA scout, according to SI.com, described him: "He's played in Europe, but not with the big boys."
I doubt the Swiss would argue with such an assessment.
He is left-handed with a reach of over nine feet. He has shown the ability to shoot with both hands, but has very little lower block presence for a big man. He has been most effectively utilized as a power forward in pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop situations and has the ability to face up with big men on the perimeter a la Chris Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire. He has impressed in pre-draft camps and workouts with a style that is unlike most big men in the NBA.
Still, there are concerns. He is young (19 years old) and has very little experience. He does not bang around inside, bringing into question his defensive capabilities in a much more aggressive and physical NBA style of play.
There are also durability questions.
His most recent season was cut short due to a season-ending shoulder injury and he was knocked out of pre-draft camp early after banging knees with a player. Richards has this to say about his shoulder:
It is fine," Richards said. "I saw four or five specialists who said no surgery, three months rehab, so I am still actually doing the rehab now just waiting for the draft to finish so I can really get in the gym. I don't want to work out too much than tire my body out and then get in the gym for these workouts."
Reassuring, somewhat.
By all accounts, his draft stock rose substantially after his performance at the 2010 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. There is no question that many NBA scouts see Richards as a player with an enormous amount of potential if he is developed in the right system and I don't think anyone would question Pop's ability to develop unknown players into successful NBA stars. No doubt the eyes of England will be upon him and the Spurs as he makes this transition.
Still can a 19-year old from the amateur leagues of Europe with a history of injury problems possibly be ready for NBA basketball? Richards seems to think so:
"I play with a lot of NBA guys in the summer, I play with the top guys in Europe, in the D-League, so I'm not really worried about playing at this level," Richards said. "I am learning a lot how to defend in the NBA. In Europe the court is a lot smaller so you can get a lot more help. After playing today and some of my other workouts, you can see that you have to play man-to-man defense.
"I just think I am a quick learner. This is the best league to learn how to play here."
He definitely brings the confidence. Who does Richards think he best compares to? Only Lamar Odom and Chris Bosh. I hope he's right.
One area which was lacking during the San Antonio Spurs' 2010 season was reliable shooting. Now with free-agency fully underway, it seems the Spurs are attempting to address this need.
According to the deseretnews.com, the Spurs are interested in Utah Jazz free-agent Kyle Korver:
New Jersey and San Antonio also are thought to have interest in Korver, an unrestricted free agent who was Matthews' backup and the NBA's leading 3-point shooter last season.
If the report is true, the question now becomes, how much will the Spurs offer Korver knowing they are financially strapped? Spurs fans know the Spurs seem to have committed the MLE to Tiago Splitter should he decide to come to the NBA and play for the Spurs.
With their second round selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Ryan Richards. A 7'0" big man out of England. Fulfilling a well-known expectation of the Spurs to draft overseas players, Spurs' G.M. R.C. Buford and company chose a relatively unknown commodity by selecting Richards. Though unproven, it seems many of the experts like what they see.
knocked out of pre-draft camp early after banging knees with a player. Richards has 
