According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Timberwolves signing of Nikola Pekovic to a three year, $13 million contract may have ruined the Spurs plans to sign Splitter and have money left over for another player, all with the midlevel exception.

There were undoubtedly some eyes rolling into the backs of heads in the Spurs’ front office with the Minnesota Timberwolves close to an agreement with European center Nikola Pekovic on a three-year, $13 million contract. The Spurs are negotiating to bring over 2008 first-round pick Tiago Splitter this summer, and Pekovic’s deal promises to elevate Splitter’s leverage.

That second free agent very well could be Golden State's Anthony Morrow, who Wojnarowski says attracted several suitors, including San Antonio.

The 6-5 Morrow averaged 13 points per game with the Warriors last season. The Spurs could see him as more outside shooting help, which they desperately needed against the Suns in the playoffs, and Morrow shot an impressive 45 percent from beyond the arc last season.

On this special edition of the Spurscast, Mike and I discuss the news of San Antonio Spurs' forward, Richard Jefferson, opting out of his contract. What does this mean for the Spurs and will he return next season?

We also discuss the other Spurs' free agents (Roger Mason, Ian Mahinmi, Keith Bogans and Matt Bonner) and if they will be returning to the team next season.

The Spurscast, the first and original Spurs podcast!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download

According to the San Antonio Express-News, via CBS Sports, San Antonio Spurs' forward, Antonio McDyess, may call next season his last in the NBA.

McDyess, who will be 36 when the 2010-11 season starts, was signed for three years at the full midlevel exception last summer when the Spurs missed out on signing Rasheed Wallace.

He will make $4.8 million this season. The final year in his contract is worth $5.2 million, but it is only partially guaranteed.

McDyess averaged 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 21 minutes per game in the regular season, but raised those numbers to 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in the playoffs.

Former San Antonio Spurs' guard, Jacque Vaughn, will be returning to the Spurs to serve as an assistant coach for the Spurs' 2010 Vegas Summer League team:

Former Spurs point guard Jacque Vaughn is expected to serve as an assistant coach for the team's summer league squad next month in Las Vegas, an endeavor he might hope to parlay into a full-time gig next season.

He has long been held in high esteem by coach Gregg Popovich, who has called Vaughn prime coaching material. (source Express-News)

The Spurs do have a vacant spot among the coaching ranks since James Borrego (former video coordinator) has now moved on to the New Orleans Hornets to join Monty Williams' coaching staff.

The free-agency period officially begins today and it's time to look at the San Antonio Spurs' free-agents.

Here are their free-agents: Richard Jefferson, Keith Bogans, Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, and Ian Mahinmi.

Jefferson. With a guaranteed $15.2 million dollars on the table, chances are low he will pass that kind of money up. Right? Think again! Jefferson did opt out of his final contract year with the Spurs. With his lackluster performance in his first season with the Spurs, never living up to expectations, and drawing the ire of Spurs fans, perhaps he might want to find a new team to wipe the slate clean. This does not mean his days are completely over with the Spurs. The team may bring him back. You know Spurs nation is hoping they don't.

Bogans. Brought on to be the Spurs' primary perimeter defender, Bogans was serviceable but still wasn't the player the team was hoping he would be. Expect him to not be with the team next season.

Mason. After coming off a solid 2008-2009 season with the Spurs, Mason had an unforgettable second season with the team. Never cracking the rotation, appeared to have lost his shooting touch, requested to be traded, and was not reliable during the regular season and post season. Also, with the Spurs drafting shooter, James Anderson, Mason's time with the Spurs is over and expect him to sign with another team.

Bonner. With his ability to knock down the three-point shot and a newly developed dribble-drive move to the paint, he could provide a valuable sign-and-trade piece should the Spurs decide to move him. However, Bonner proved to be a valuable asset during the regular season but again fizzled in the playoffs. With the Spurs financially strapped, will the Spurs use their "Bird Rights" to resign him?  Possibly.

Mahinmi. Can you say draft-day-bust? He never could crack the rotation, is foul prone, and early in his "career" with the Spurs, he has been injury prone. Though he did have a few good games this past season (i.e. against the New Jersey Nets) he never panned out as the athletic big man the Spurs have been lacking. Earlier in the season the Spurs did not pick up his last year on his contract and if that doesn't speak volumes about his future with the team, then I do not know what will.  There was a report that Mahinmi was signing a contract soon but did not state which team it was. Oh and he also stated he will base his decision on where he would play next on increased playing time.

Well there you go Spurs fans. Time to put on your G.M. hat and decide the fate of these Spurs' free-agent.

With the news coming out that San Antonio Spurs' forward, Richard Jefferson, opted out of his final year of his contract, passing up on a guaranteed $15 million dollars, Spurs fans were rejoicing. Maybe they should halt any parties.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Jefferson might be re-signing with the Spurs:

Sources said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been personally working out Jefferson in San Antonio. The free-agent forward could re-sign with the team at a number that lowers the franchise’s luxury-tax hit while guaranteeing him more money on the back end of a multiyear contract.

What are your thoughts Spurs fans? Should the team re-sign Jefferson?

According to KSAT 12 News in San Antonio, San Antonio Spurs' forward, Richard Jefferson, has decided to opt out of his final contract year which would pay him $15.2 million dollars next season:

The report goes on to state:

According to a Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, forward Richard Jefferson has opted out of the last year of his contract.

This would free up much needed luxury tax relief for the Spurs.

Jefferson had his lowest scoring season since his rookie season with the New Jersey Nets. He also did not mesh well with the team and did not live up to expectations.

Let's see what the Spurs do with Jefferson now.

Former Spur Doc Rivers has been in San Antonio all week to watch his son, Austin Rivers, compete in the FIBA Americas U18 World Championships.

While walking out of Bill Greehey Arena at St. Mary's University last night, Rivers allowed me to ask a few quick questions, two of which pertained to the Spurs.

Rivers said he thought the Spurs moves this summer will benefit next year's squad.

"The draft pick is nice but Splitter, he's going to be playing with the Spurs this year," Rivers said. "That pickup is even better."

But would it be enough to make the Spurs serious finals and championship contenders?

"The Spurs will be a championship contender as long as Pop is there and Tim is there," Rivers said.

Coming from a coach who has taken his Celtics to the NBA Finals twice in the last three years, I think I can trust his judgement.

I also asked Rivers if he made his decision about returning to the Celtics for the final year of his contract, and while he said he had not, a day later we now know that he will be back with Boston to make another Finals run next season.

With former San Antonio Spur and assistant coach, Monty Williams, now the head coach of the New Orleans Hornets, today, Williams announced the rest of his coaching staff which includes James Borrego.

New Orleans Hornets Head Coach Monty Williams announced three new members of his coaching staff today. Williams will be joined by Mike Malone, Bryan Gates and James Borrego.

Borrego was with the Spurs for seven years. During his time with San Antonio, he served as the Spurs' video coordinator and assistant coach for the Spurs' summer league teams.

Just another example of the ever growing Spurs coaching tree.

Now that the smoke has cleared and the draft is over, San Antonio Spurs' point-guard, Tony Parker, is talking about possibly not being a Spur after next year.

According to L'Equipe's translation, Parker said "I talked with Pop, he told me that I'm not going anywhere. New York and Portland were the two most serious options, but San Antonio has said no. And I love the club. I want to stay for the last year of contract to play with Tim and Manu and then be a free agent."

Parker went on to say that after next year, he will have been in San Antonio for ten years and thinks he can dedicate another eight or nine to another team.

Don't be surprised if extension talks never begin with Parker. If he does end up leaving, will the front office regret not trading him on draft day?