• Hairston released by Italian team
According to The Hoops Market, former Spurs Malik Hairston, who was recently released by the Spurs and signed by Montepaschi Siena of the Italian League, is now a man without a team.
Just a month ago after signing Malik Hairston, Montepaschi Siena has decided to terminate his contract. The 23-year-old American guard, who arrived from the San Antonio Spurs, is suffering a disc problem that doesn’t allow him to play normally. Hairston, though, will continue his rehabilitation in Siena, and the Italian club could considerate to re-sign him with new contract conditions.
No details were given on the severity of the disc injury and what kind, from a herniated to ruptured disc, but my guess is that with the proper rehab that a professional should offer, he won’t be “unemployed” for long.
• Spurs working out Gardner
Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld tweeted yesterday that Thomas Gardner would be working out for the Spurs today.
Gardner has been playing in Belgium for the Antwerp Giants after his NBA stints with the Bulls, Hawks and Grizzlies.
Gardner is a 6-5 guard with NBA averages of 2.3 points in just over seven minutes per game.
It’s not surprising the Spurs are looking at another shooter, after they struggled with shooting last season, but it is surprising that they continue to bring in guards, when backup small forward is likely the biggest weakness at this point.
UPDATE:
The Spurs are also looking at Jawad Williams from North Carolina as a possible invitee for their upcoming training camp:
Williams, a 6-foot-9, 218-pound forward who was on North Carolina’s NCAA championship team in 2005, played the past two seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is a restricted free agent, which will allow the Cavaliers to match any contract offer the Spurs may elect to give him. (source mysanantonio.com)
Williams averaged 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game for the Cavs last season.
I asked Glenn Moore of the Dugout Sports Show and Sports Talk Cleveland what he thought of Williams. Moore said Williams is a good bench player and contributed when he got the minutes.
The Spurs still have their bi-annual exception if they like what they see in Williams and choose to make him an offer.
• Suns bring back Jones
Former Austin Toro Dwayne Jones is going back to the Phoenix Suns after he was traded to the Toronto Rapors with Leandro Barbosa for Hedo Turkoglu.
Jones, who I pleaded with the Spurs front office to bring up from Austin, was waived by the Raptors on August 16.
Jeff Garcia contributed to this post.
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