Spurs Are Planning For Duncan & Ginobili Return, Targeting Lopez?

Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher is reporting that even though sides have not sat down formally yet, the San Antonio front office is expecting future hall-of-famers Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to re-sign with the team.

Personally, I’ll believe it when I see it. As long as there’s nothing official from the Spurs, it’s not a certainty.

Insider buzz: Manu Ginobili & Tim Duncan will return to the Spurs to “keep the band together” http://t.co/bRQsjkhsyP pic.twitter.com/dYeRm0RXXk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 18, 2015

However, Bleacher Report also reported that the Spurs could potentially be targeting Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez this summer. Lopez has a player option on his deal, be he will surely test the waters outside of Brooklyn, a franchise that looks to be in a rebuilding process for years to come. He makes for an interesting name to throw into the free agent discussion next to LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol.

The former All-Star averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks last season for Brooklyn. The 26 year old is entering his eighth NBA season and it could very well be his first not playing for the Nets.

NBA Conference Finals Previews and Predictions

Despite the thrilling seven-game series that the Clippers and Spurs finished off two weeks ago, the first round as a whole was nearly useless, as five of the eight matchups didn’t go past five games. But the second round produced four nailbiting series, and even though only one went the distance (in extraordinary fashion), the semi-finals were just about everything the NBA fan base could ask for.

NBA Second Round Previews and Predictions

After the Clippers last second win over the defending champion Spurs on Saturday night, attention swiftly shifts to the leagues’ second round matchups. But before we follow suit, let’s run down how the first round predictions turned out.

Angels Dump Josh Hamilton On Rangers

The Texas Rangers acquired OF Josh Hamilton from division rival Los Angeles Angels on Monday, reuniting with the former MVP who has been a shell of himself since leaving Texas two seasons ago.

Hamilton has one of the most well-publicized drug and alcohol problems in major American sports today, and prior to this season, relapsed after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery. The former first pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in the 1999 MLB Draft was a five time All Star with the Rangers in all five of his previous seasons with the club from 2008-2012. 

Kawhi Leonard Wins 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

Kawhi Leonard added to his rapidly expanding trophy case on Thursday morning as the NBA announced that he had been named the 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Mere hours after making multiple clutch plays in the Spurs 111-107 overtime win against the Clippers in Game 2, Leonard took home the trophy that many had already etched the words “Draymond Green” into. In fact, Green received more first place votes (45) than Leonard (37), but Leonard’s 333 total votes topped Green’s 317. 

Western Conference 1st Round Previews and Predictions

1 golden state warriors vs 8 new orleans pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans finished off the regular season in style with a postseason clinching home win against the Spurs, who had won 11 straight coming into that game, and at the same time knocking San Antonio down to the sixth seed. For their efforts, they get the league’s best regular season team in the 67-win Golden State.

Eastern Conference 1st Round Previews and Predictions

1 Atlanta hawks vs 8 Brooklyn nets

The Hawks ran over the East and much of the West this season en route to a 60-win season. Although they finished the season a little banged up, with the NYPD breaking Thabo Sefolosha’s leg and Paul Millsap’s shoulder woes, the Hawks draw the Brooklyn Nets in the first round.