Former Spur Temple participating in Summer League

A couple of years ago, San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich called guard Garrett Temple his new favorite player.  Then Temple sprained his ankle, wasn’t the same through training camp and got waived to make room for some dude named Gary Neal. 

Temple was then named a D-League All-Star and finished the 2010-2011 with the Charlotte Bobcats.  Thanks the lockout, Temple decided to play last season in Italy.  According to Temple’s Twitter account, he’s ready to return to the NBA and has found not one but two teams to play for this summer.

“@Euro_Hooper84 im playing with Indiana in the one in Orlando first and I gotta report on the 5th. Then with the Cavs in Vegas on the 13th”

I always like Temple.  Before Gary Neal emerged as a ballsy shooter, I thought Temple, George Hill and James Anderson would serve as a very good reserve backcourt rotation for the Spurs, especially on defense. 

I thought his size (he’s 6’7″) would allow him to guard shooting guards and small forwards so George Hill could focus on defending the guard positions and I thought he was just a little bit better of a ball handler than Hill.  I’m also a sucker for big point guards.  I think Temple will definitely make someone’s roster by the end of July and wouldn’t be totally shocked if the Spurs kept their eye on him in Vegas while he’s playing for the Cavs since they still don’t have a true back up point guard.