The Spurs are close to adding a shooter. 2011 second round pick Davis Bertans is close to signing a two-year deal, according to both Sportando and European basketball insider David Pick. There's no confirmation on the terms of the contract yet but it could be in the $2 million range, according to Pick.
Bertans has been an intriguing prospect for a while. The Spurs drafted him with a second rounder they received from the Pacers but were rumored to be interested in him with the 29th pick in the draft, which they eventually used on Cory Joseph. Knee injuries threatened to derail his career but the Latvian sharpshooter came back strong last season and helped Laboral Kutxa reach the Euroleague Final Four, a big accomplishment for a team that can't compete with the payrolls of the bigger European clubs.
What Bertans, 23, can provide right away is outside shooting. He was arguably the best marksman in Europe last season, connecting on 43 percent of the 217 three-pointers he attempted across three competitions. His high conversion rate was not an outlier, as he's career 40 percent shooter. Even from the shorter international three-point line, that's impressive. He's also 6'10" with solid athleticism that should allow him to play both forward spots if he adds some strength.
Don't expect the signing to be announced soon. Before they can move on to the fringes of the roster, the Spurs have to figure out what they will do with Manu Ginobil and Tim Duncan. Depending on what Manu signs for and whether Duncan gets the money owed to him even if he retires, San Antonio could be force to shed salary before making any signing official.
For more on Bertans, check out our section on stashed prospects. We'll have more on his fit with the Spurs soon.