While the San Antonio Spurs haven't overhauled their roster this offseason, they have made significant changes that could affect the lineup this season.

Gone are Roger Mason Jr., Keith Bogans, Ian Mahinmi, and Malik Hairston but James Anderson and Tiago Splitter are likely to make you forget they ever played for the Spurs.

Mason and Bogans were rotation players last season, with Bogans even starting a few games. Hairston just couldn't crack the rotation.

Last season, when Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich was trying to find the right mix of players to put in his starting five, News 4 WOAI's Humberto Cervera quipped "He's just throwing stuff at the wall and trying to find out what sticks."

Unfortunately for Popovich, nothing ever stuck.

This year, however, I don't forsee him having to throw stuff at walls for long. With the amount of talent on this team, there are a lot of intriguing starting combinations.

Splitter, DeJuan Blair and Antonio McDyess are all very capable of starting next to Tim Duncan in the post.

McDyess is the savvy vet, whose range unclogs the paint so Duncan can go to work. Blair is the beast, well capable of a double-double every night. His limb-tearing style of rebounding, even over taller bigs, mixes well with Duncan's shot-blocking abilities. Splitter is probably more all-around talented center and having a center over 6-9 would be very beneficial to the Spurs.

I'm not going to rush out and call them the next "twin towers," but having two shot-blockers in the post could give the Spurs their best interior defense they've had since David Robinson was around. Splitter is also very mobile and with Duncan losing a few steps over the last couple of seasons, having someone that could stay with the younger, more athletic, centers would be a nice change of pace.

So at center, I expect McDyess to start, but Splitter will eventually take over. Blair is probably best-suited to bring some energy and hustle to the second unit.

That leaves Duncan and Richard Jefferson to fill out the frontcourt.

There are also many possibilities when it comes to the backcourt. Does George Hill keep the starting point guard role he ended the season with? Do the Spurs go small with a Tony Parker-Hill backcourt combo. Does Manu Ginobili start and can Anderson break the starting five?

Pop loves Ginobili coming off the bench too much to change that. While I like the Parker-Hill option best, that leaves Garrett Temple as the backup. Anderson could very well be the dark horse to start at the two. I doubt Pop drafted him to be buried at third-string shooting guard behind Hill and Ginobili.

The Spurs could use a consistent outside shooter in the starting lineup and with Anderson, there aren't too many risks. He may be one of the more dynamic outside shooters on the roster, since he's also able to get to the rim and create his own shot.

This also gives the Spurs a very strong second unit, but there is one thing I'm overlooking. Anderson is a rookie and Pop is his coach. Spurs fans know how Pop is towards younger players.

The best and probably the safest option is the Parker-Hill backcourt. Parker will be coming into the season with a full summer off and Hill just seems to keep improving. Having a scorer, who's capable of hitting the three and playing good perimeter defense is too good an option to keep on the bench.

Popovich manages minutes wisely and I can see him bringing in Ginobili midway towards the end of the first quarter so Hill is rested enough to also play some backup minutes.

The bench wouldn't be too shabby either, with McDyess, Blair, Anderson, Ginobili, Temple, Gary Neal and possibly Alonzo Gee.

So my 2010 starting lineup: Tony Parker, George Hill, Richard Jefferson, Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter.

Give us your thoughts on this lineup and submit your own in the comments.

According to Datasport.com and mensanabasket.it, San Antonio Spurs' guard, Malik Hairston, has signed a two-year contract with Italian club La Mens Sana Basket:

This completes the mosaic of Montepaschi Siena next season. After announcements and McCallebb Kaukenas, training Tuscan announced the two-year agreement with Malik Hairston

La Mens Sana Basket comunica di aver raggiunto un accordo biennale con Malik Hairston, ala ventitreenne di 198 cm per 100 kg. Il giocatore statunitense, uscito dall’università di Oregon nel 2008 è stato scelto al draft Nba col numero 48 dai Phoenix Suns e trasferito ai San Antonio Spurs.

After signing guard Gary Neal, the Spurs had a log jam at the guard position with other players including Garrett Temple, George Hill, and Manu Ginobili. Hairston became the odd man out.

UPDATE

The Spurs have offcially announced Hairston has been released from his contract:

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that, per his request, the team has released Malik Hairston from his contract.

“We’ve enjoyed having Malik in our organization,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “He is a hard-worker, a talented basketball player and an outstanding young man. After Malik approached us we were happy to honor his request as it will, after he clears waivers, allow him to pursue an excellent overseas basketball opportunity.”

Reports and rumors all summer long have implied that Tony Parker's time in San Antonio might be coming to an end due to George Hill's emergence. Some have even used the word expendable.

But not Hill, according to Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News:

"I've heard that (stuff),” Hill said, “but I don't think a player like Tony Parker, a guy who has helped this team win and has championships under his belt, can ever be considered expendable."

While many in San Antonio believe Hill is ready to take the reins at point guard, after starting all playoff games and several regular season games, I think he could use more seasoning and more time with Parker might be beneficial, not to mention something Hill wants as well.

"Right now I don't pay any attention to it. ‘TP' is my teammate, and that's all I'm riding with. Hopefully, I still get to play alongside him next year in that 1-2 combo situation.”

Monroe also noted that Spurs assistant Chad Forcier has been working with Hill on developing a teardrop shot similar to Parker's. It'll be interesting to see the teardrop in action even when Parker does head to the bench next season.

New head coach of the New Jersey Nets and former San Antonio Spurs' guard, Avery Johnson, know a bit about playing with great NBA forwards. Especially since he played with Spurs' Tim Duncan when Duncan was just a rookie in the NBA.

Now Johnson is working with a new NBA forward, rookie Derrick Favors, and he is seeing a bit of Duncan in the way Favors carries himself:

"He reminds me of Duncan in the way he's coachable,'' the New Jersey coach said in an interview with FanHouse about Favors, taken with the No. 3 overall pick out of Georgia Tech in last month's draft. "Duncan was that way, very coachable, but also very skilled. Duncan came in with the left and the right hand and came in with the ability to shoot the ball. And this kid didn't even go through college as long as Duncan. We're just getting him after his freshman year.'' (source Fanhouse.com)

Favors does have a long way to go to measure up to what Duncan has done in the NBA but with this comparison to one of the NBA's greatest forwards, I am sure Favors feels no pressure.

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.