Spurs prep for season opener against Timberwolves.

Coach Pop welcomes Tim Duncan to the sidelines.

With free agent buzz quieting down to a simmer, the Spurs training camp is underway with many new faces on the court and on the training staff, especially former player and champion Tim Duncan, who has officially replaced Ime Udoka (bound for a bigger role with the Philadelphia 76ers) after never quite leaving the Spurs organization since his retirement.

"Oh, yeah. We've been busy. We've got ourselves a bunch of new guys to welcome and mold into our own, see what they offer on the court, except for old Timmy," Popovich remarked. "Calling me old, now?" Duncan joked next to his former coach. "I'mma let him do all the work," Popovich went on. "Nothing ever changes around here, I guess," Duncan chided.

The Spurs have only four players left from last year's roster: Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, Avery Bradley & Dragan Bender. The team still has time to make decisions on the possibilities of bringing back Omri Casspi and Mario Chalmers, as well as J.R. Smith for whom the Spurs have reportedly received calls by other teams. Acclamation is the theme of training camp, with many questions to be answered: Injuries - how much can Jeremy Lin and Timofey Mosgov, with injuries not far behind them, contribute? Chemistry - these new players must gel for this season to be a success - Development - the likes of newcomer Derrick White, a full season with prospect Dragan Bender, star potential in raw talents Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince - Leadership - can the duo of Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram, with respective rookie extensions now in the rear view mirror, lead this team forward to another championship celebration next June?

Their foe across the hardwood has its own challenges, as the Minnesota Timberwolves look to new coach Ryan Saunders having ousted Tim Thibodeau in the wake of giving star big man Karl-Anthony Towns a five-year, 190 million super max extension.

On June 25, 2015, I was drafted to and committed to the Minnesota Timberwolves. On September 22, 2018, I made a recommitment to the Wolves and have the same feelings of excitement that I felt back in 2015. I promise to the fans, my teammates and the organization to keep the vision of the man who drafted me, Flip Saunders, alive and treat his dream of winning with respect and dignity. To the fans from Day One and the Timberwolves fans, this is for you. Thank you for believing in me.

The T'Wolves have gone through a turbulent few seasons, darkened by the passing of Flip Saunders (RIP), tainted by the imperfect acquisition of Jimmy Butler and subsequent trade to the 76ers (who've now just lost Butler to the Miami Heat for nothing) and scrambled by the questionable rookie scale extension for Andrew Wiggins--who has fallen far after being drafted #1 overall in 2014-- and unrealized vision of Coach Thibodeau.

In the shadow of Kevin Garnett, KAT remains, yet at least it seems the star big man has a better view of Coach Ryan Saunders. "He shows his whole coaching repertoire. He stays as composed as anybody, gives us positive energy. Keeps telling us to fight and keep making the right moves. It's like he's playing chess the whole night so we can learn and improve, come out with checkmate.”

Time will tell when Mosgov is tasked with defending Towns down low, along with Allen--who will look to add KAT to his list of shot blocks on star players.