Not only are San Antonio Spurs fans are keeping a close eye on Tiago Splitter and whether he will or will not come to the team next season but it appears the Spurs coaching staff are keeping a close eye on Splitter as well.

According to www.marca.com, Spurs' assistant coach, Mike Budenholzer, is in Spain and was able to watch Splitter and his team, Caja Laboral, beat Palau Blaugrana. Splitter finished 16 points and six rebounds.

Los San Antonio Spurs marcan muy de cerca a Tiago Splitter y a Gregg Popovich, entrenador de los de San Antonio, le llegarán informes del pívot muy pronto.

Uno de los principales ayudantes del técnico del conjunto texano, Mike Budenholzer, presenció en directo el triunfo del Caja Laboral en el Palau Blaugrana.

El pívot brasileño, que este verano puede dejar el club vitoriano para recalar en la NBA, cuajó un buen partido y acabó con 16 puntos y 6 rebotes en 36 minutos de juego.

Pretty interesting to hear especially after a report that talks have begun between the Spurs and Splitter. Seems the Spurs are going to do their best to convince him to come to the team and forgo a pay-day to stay overseas.

Click HERE for the English translation.

According to TNT's David Aldridge, Quin Synder has been hired by the Philadelphia 76ers to head their player development.

Synder coached the San Antonio Spurs' developmental league affiliate, Austin Toros, for the past three seasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers plan to bolster their player development side under new coach Doug Collins by bringing in former University of Missouri coach Quin Snyder to head that position, according to league sources.

The 43-year-old Snyder has spent the last three years as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs' D-League team, the Austin Toros, where he's helped develop players like guard Alonzo Gee, who was named the D-League's Rookie of the Year this past season, and center Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' 2007 first-round pick.

Click HERE for the complete article.

In today's ESPN/SportsNation chat, myself and Project Spurs' writer Jeff Cerda, asked former San Antonio Spur, Robert Horry, a couple of questions. Enjoy!

Jeff Cerda asked Horry:

Of all of your championships, which one is your favorite and why?

My favorite champions is the 1995 championship with he Rockets. We were the sixth seed without home court advantage. We had to win on the road and we swept the Magic who were the hottest team in the NBA at that time.

Though Spurs fans might say the championship Spurs teams were better but it's hard to disagree with Horry. That Rockets team was on fire at the right time and as a sixth-seed to win it all was impressive.

Here was my question for Horry:

What is your view on what the Spurs need to address in the off-season to remain in title contention?

Their biggest concern is getting a center to go along side Tim. They have two great point guards that have great value so I would try and trade one of them for a big man.

Seems Horry can see the Spurs lack of a center as an area of concern. The two point-guards he is referring to is obviously Tony Parker and George Hill. I am not sure how Spurs fans will feel about his response but what big man out there would Spurs fans want to get in return through a trade?

During the last interview with Rider's Ryan Thompson on the Spurscast (click HERE to listen to the interview) Thompson gave us a few names of other players he worked out with during his second work out with the San Antonio Spurs before the 2010 NBA Draft:

• Lance Stephenson from Cincinnati
• Landry Fields from Stanford
• Demond "Tweety" Carter from Baylor
• Ben Uzoh from Tulsa

Aside from Fields, who is a small-forward, all other players are guards.  But who are these players the Spurs recently worked out? Here is a quick look at these players:

Stephenson is a 6'5" shooting-guard who averaged 12.3 points, shot 44% from the field, shot 21.9% from the three-point line and was 66.4% from the free-throw line in 2009-2010 season with Cincinnati.

Fields is a 6'7" small-forward who averaged 22 points, shot 49% from the field, shot 33.7% from the three-point line and was 69.6% from the free-throw line in 2009-2010 season with Stanford.

Carter is a 5'11" guard who averaged 15 points, shot 43% from the field, shot 38% from the three-point line and was 77% from the free-throw line in 2009-2010 season with Baylor.

Uzoh is from San Antonio and we recently had a post on him. For more on Uzoh click HERE.

The most glaring need for the Spurs is a center. However, one thing which has been very telling is the Spurs have been working out mostly guards. This is could be a sign the team feels confident Tiago Splitter is coming to the Spurs to fill the need for a big and that the team still doesn't feel quite comfortable at the guard position.

When you think of global basketball powers you might automatically think the U.S.A., Argentina, or Spain but not Canada.  Well Canada, you're in luck! Why? Because San Antonio Spurs' forward Matt Bonner is trying to get his Canadian citizenship in time to play in Turkey at the World Championship this summer.

Bonner, the once Toronto Raptor, fell in love with the country and is trying to get Canadian citizenship in time to play with team Canada for the World Championships in Turkey this summer. Here is what Canadian Men's National Team coach, Leo Rautins, had to say about Bonner:

In his two seasons as a Raptor (2004-05, 2005-06) Bonner fell in love with Canada, Toronto, curling (honestly) and a Canadian woman. The couple have married and Bonner's trying to get Canadian citizenship in time to play in Turkey.

"He's dying to play and we're keeping our fingers crossed," says Rautins of Bonner, who averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Spurs last season.

Should Bonner get his citizenship in time for the World Championships in Turkey, he would join Miami Heat forward Joel Anthony, possibly Jamaal Magloire, and son of Canada's coach, Andy Rautins, of Syracuse.  

Native Canadian Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns is doubtful to play for Canada in Turkey but who needs a two-time MVP when the possibility of Bonner playing for Canada should make other competing teams quiver in fear.

In past summers, other Spurs played for their home country such as Tony Parker for France and Manu Ginobili for Argentina and it caused great concern for Spurs fans.  Granted I know he is a free-agent but I am sure Spurs fans will be just as upset over Bonner possibly playing for Canada in the summer instead of resting. Right Spurs fans? Hello? Why am I hearing laughter? 

Late last season, the San Antonio Spurs brought in Garrett Temple from the NBDL's Rio Grande Vipers to help fill the void left at the guard position when Tony Parker and George Hill were injured.

Many Spurs fans were scratching their heads and wondering who was this new guy.  As soon as Temple got playing time, he left Spurs fans cheering for him after he had impressive games. In his first start as a Spur, he finished with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds. Not too shabby for a first-time starter.

In an recent interview with Christopher Gordy of TigerWeekly.com, Temple reflected on his first season with the Spurs.

Temple on Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich:

"He's the best coach I've ever had the pleasure to play for," said Temple. "He knows so much about the game of basketball and you're always learning new things when you're around him."

Temple on the difference between the regular season and the playoffs:

"You can really see how much the intensity increases in the playoffs," said Temple. "We had just played the Dallas Mavericks at the end of the regular season, and when we played them days later in the playoffs, it was a different intensity."

Temple on his attitude for next season:

"I'm just ready to get back out there and prove what I can do again."

According to Temple, he will be back with the Spurs and has already been working out in San Antonio and will play for the Summer League team.  To read the complete interview with Temple, click HERE.

If you were ever curious as to what a pre-NBA draft workout with the San Antonio Spurs is like,well you have to listen to this special edition of the Spurscast.

On this episode of the Spurscast, Mike and I welcome back Ryan Thompson from Rider University.  In this interview, we follow up with Ryan on his second workout with the San Antonio Spurs.

We ask Ryan about differences in the second workout with the Spurs from his first, how he copes with the traveling, the sit-down interview with the Spurs, which other NBA teams he is going to workout with next and much more!

It was interesting to hear Ryan worked out with shooting-guard Lance Stephenson from Cincinnati, small-forward Landry Fields from Stanford, guard Demond "Tweety" Carter from Baylor and point-guard Ben Uzoh from Tulsa.  See a pattern here? Mostly guards.

We would like to thank Ryan for taking time out of his busy schedule to join us and give all Spurs fans an inside look at what a work out with the Spurs is really like. Make sure to follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryt5.

Best of luck to Ryan in the upcoming NBA Draft!

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During the press-conference introducing Monty Williams as the new head-coach of the New Orleans Hornets, he made it a point to thank the San Antonio Spurs and Gregg Popovich for giving him his first steps into coaching.

But how did it all begin?  Well with no pay, sweat-soaked towels, and sweeping.

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich saw it too. When chronic knee injuries forced Williams to retire in 2003, Popovich offered him a notebook, a chair and a spot in the corner of the team's practice facility. There Williams could observe workouts, evaluate players and learn about life as an NBA coach.

Williams expanded his duties to include chasing down loose balls, picking up sweat-soaked towels, sweeping the practice courts and breaking down videotape. At first, he was paid nothing, but the experience was invaluable.

"I didn't have a title," Williams said. "I did whatever they needed me to do. It was the best time of my life. I loved it."

The labor of love in San Antonio allowed Williams to catch the eye of Portland coach Nate McMillian, who offered a spot as an assistant in 2005.

Many in the NBA owe the Spurs and Popovich thanks. From Sam Presti with the Oklahoma Thunder, to Steve Kerr with the Phoenix Suns, and many others and now Monty Williams can be added to this list of the Spurs-Popovich coaching tree.

Click HERE for the complete article.

Recently, the San Antonio Spurs worked out Manny Harris from Michigan. While at Michigan, Harris led the Wolverines in nearly every offensive category, averaging 18.1 points per game.

He even says he patterns his game and is said to look like Spurs' guard George Hill.  I don't see the physical resemblance to Hill but I will leave it up to you to be the judge.

Harris already has worked out for San Antonio and Houston. He patterns his game after the Spurs' George Hill and even resembles Hill.

Aside from averaging 18.1 points per game, Harris shot 42.1% from the field, 30.8% from the three-point line, 80% from the free-throw line, and 4.1 assists.

Harris was suspended due to an incident while in practice this past January. He was later reinstated by Michigan coach John Beilein. Harris did make a public apology for his suspension.

With the 2010 NBA Draft nearing, the San Antonio Spurs are one of the most agressive teams trying to move up in the draft according to ESPN's Chad Ford (via DailyThunder.com):

Per sources in the league, the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have all had discussions about moving up, down or out of the draft.

The Pistons, Spurs and Thunder have been the most aggressive about moving up.

The Spurs and Thunder are also in the hunt for a big and have targeted a number of teams in the lottery to move up a few spots.

The Spurs have Tony Parker or George Hill. While the Spurs aren’t necessarily shopping either player, they’re not untouchable either. If the Spurs can get another big man to help prolong Tim Duncan’s career, they’ll do it.

The Spurs have already spoken with Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors during the NBA Draft combine in Chicago.  Though it will take a lot for the Spurs to give up to move into the top four slots in the draft to get Favors even with the Philadelphia 76ers open to trading their number two pick.

Also, if the team is looking at a big in the draft then is this a sign the team isn't 100% sure Brazilian center Tiago Splitter will be coming to play for the Spurs next season?