Willis signs with Spurs

The Associated Press reports: The San Antonio Spurs, who have dealt away most of their backup big men from last year, have signed veteran Kevin Willis to play behind starting center David Robinson.

The Spurs did not disclose the terms of the deal.

Willis, who turns 40 on Sept. 6, has played for six teams in his 18-year NBA career. In 2001-02, he was with the Houston Rockets, averaging 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while playing in 52 games.

The 7-foot, 245-pound Willis has also played for Atlanta, Miami, Golden State, Toronto and Denver.

For his career, he has averaged 13.1 points and nine rebounds per game.

Via ESPN

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Popovich loses two coaches to Warriors

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Kerr happy to be back in San Antonio

Steve Kerr's reign in Portland only lasted one season, Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune is reporting, but last week's trade that sent him back to San Antonio caught him completely off guard.

Kerr was planning to move his family from San Antonio to Portland this summer but before doing so he contacted Bob Whitsitt on whether or not he was likely to be traded. This happened a week before the trade and Whitsitt's response was nothing on the table, which made Kerr happy. Although disappointed at first about being traded to Portland Kerr wound up having fun and wanted to stay with the team. Then one week later the trade happens.

“Bob told me nothing was going on,” Kerr says. “He said he didn’t expect anything to happen, to plan on moving up, but to call him again in a couple of weeks before we definitely make the move.”

Whitsitt reportedly said Kerr had indicated to him that he wanted to return to the Spurs, according to Eggers, something that Kerr strongly denies.

“That bugs me a little bit, because I did not ask for a trade,” Kerr says. “I told him I had enjoyed the previous season and was looking forward to coming back, and my family was fired up about joining me. The trade caught me totally off-guard. Crazy."

“When I first went to Portland, I wasn’t thrilled about it, but I ended up having a real fun year. I had established a role on that team and felt I could play a similar role this season, at least until they got Jeff McInnis. Now I’m thrilled to be back with the Spurs.”

“I love having Steve Kerr on my team,” added Spurs coach Greg Popovich. “He has such a basketball intelligence quotient, and my players respect the hell out of him.

“Adding him to the locker room of a team that played the Lakers as well as we did last year will be a plus. He will end up coaching for us some day if he wants to.”

Some expect this to be Kerr's final season.

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