duncan228
07-02-2009, 02:35 PM
The imports-in-waiting: A fourth rebuilding tool (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/07/the-imports-in-.html)
By Jeff McDonald
So far this offseason, the Spurs have demonstrated a willingness to use every tool at their disposal to refurbish their team.
They've swung a trade for Richard Jefferson. They've used the draft to choose one immediate impact player (DeJuan Blair) and one possible impact player (Jack McClinton). At the moment, they are busy scouring the free-agent market for another big man.
There is one rebuilding tool, however, that often gets overlooked. The Spurs already own the rights to a handful of players who have been marinating overseas. At least one of them -- 2008 draftee James Gist -- seems to have a decent chance of making the jump to the NBA this season.
What follows is a glance at the players the Spurs have in the pipeline, their imports-in-waiting:
James Gist
Pos: F
Height: 6-8
Age: 22
Drafted: 2008 second round, 57th overall
The skinny: Spent last season with Angelico Biella in Italy after standout college career at Maryland, but has designs on making the Spurs roster this fall. He's currently working out in San Antonio, and will play with the Spurs summer league team in Las Vegas later this week. With a solid showing, Gist could find his way into silver-and-black in the season to come.
Tiago Splitter
Pos: F/C
Height: 6-11
Age: 24
Drafted: 2007 first round, 28th overall
The skinny: The Spurs are searching for a big man this summer, but Splitter is unlikely to be available. He is still under contract with Tau Cermica in Spain, and the Spurs are approaching the offseason as if he's going to stay there for another season. Maybe next summer.
Robertas Javtokas
Pos: F/C
Height: 6-11
Age: 29
Drafted: 2001, second round, 56th overall.
The skinny: Javtokas seemed ticketed for the NBA when the Spurs plucked him out of Lithuania eight years ago, but hasn't been the same player since a 2002 motorcycle accident. The Spurs have shopped his rights as a consideration in various trade talks, but haven't found any takers. He currently plays for Dynamo Moscow.
Viktor Sanikidze
Pos: F
Height: 6-8
Age: 23
Drafted: 2004, second round, 47th overall by Atlanta. Acquired by Spurs in draft-day trade.
The skinny: Though the Georgian did make one appearance in America -- with the Spurs' summer-league squad in 2007 -- Sanikidze is still toiling overseas. He played most recently in Estonia last season, and remains outside the Spurs' immediate plans.
Nando de Colo
Pos: G
Height: 6-5
Age: 22
Drafted: 2009 second round, 53rd overall.
The skinny: The last of the Spurs' three second-round picks in the June draft, de Colo will play with the Spurs summer league entry this summer. He is still a project player, projected to remain overseason this summer.
By Jeff McDonald
So far this offseason, the Spurs have demonstrated a willingness to use every tool at their disposal to refurbish their team.
They've swung a trade for Richard Jefferson. They've used the draft to choose one immediate impact player (DeJuan Blair) and one possible impact player (Jack McClinton). At the moment, they are busy scouring the free-agent market for another big man.
There is one rebuilding tool, however, that often gets overlooked. The Spurs already own the rights to a handful of players who have been marinating overseas. At least one of them -- 2008 draftee James Gist -- seems to have a decent chance of making the jump to the NBA this season.
What follows is a glance at the players the Spurs have in the pipeline, their imports-in-waiting:
James Gist
Pos: F
Height: 6-8
Age: 22
Drafted: 2008 second round, 57th overall
The skinny: Spent last season with Angelico Biella in Italy after standout college career at Maryland, but has designs on making the Spurs roster this fall. He's currently working out in San Antonio, and will play with the Spurs summer league team in Las Vegas later this week. With a solid showing, Gist could find his way into silver-and-black in the season to come.
Tiago Splitter
Pos: F/C
Height: 6-11
Age: 24
Drafted: 2007 first round, 28th overall
The skinny: The Spurs are searching for a big man this summer, but Splitter is unlikely to be available. He is still under contract with Tau Cermica in Spain, and the Spurs are approaching the offseason as if he's going to stay there for another season. Maybe next summer.
Robertas Javtokas
Pos: F/C
Height: 6-11
Age: 29
Drafted: 2001, second round, 56th overall.
The skinny: Javtokas seemed ticketed for the NBA when the Spurs plucked him out of Lithuania eight years ago, but hasn't been the same player since a 2002 motorcycle accident. The Spurs have shopped his rights as a consideration in various trade talks, but haven't found any takers. He currently plays for Dynamo Moscow.
Viktor Sanikidze
Pos: F
Height: 6-8
Age: 23
Drafted: 2004, second round, 47th overall by Atlanta. Acquired by Spurs in draft-day trade.
The skinny: Though the Georgian did make one appearance in America -- with the Spurs' summer-league squad in 2007 -- Sanikidze is still toiling overseas. He played most recently in Estonia last season, and remains outside the Spurs' immediate plans.
Nando de Colo
Pos: G
Height: 6-5
Age: 22
Drafted: 2009 second round, 53rd overall.
The skinny: The last of the Spurs' three second-round picks in the June draft, de Colo will play with the Spurs summer league entry this summer. He is still a project player, projected to remain overseason this summer.