The Spurs' first-round pick, point guard Tony Parker, is contractually-bound to play next season in France, report Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express.  However, his agent, Mark Fleischer, says he already had a verbal agreement on a buy-out if Parker was taken in the first round.  He expects no problems in the negotiation next week.  Parker believes the buyout will be under $500,000.  However, Parker won't show up in San Antonio until later in the summer as he competes for France's under-20 national team.

Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express writes that San Antonio's selection of Tony Parker spells the end of Avery Johnson's career with the Spurs.  Right before the draft, Johnson described his chances of returning as 50/50; they went down considerably when Parker, for whom the Spurs had tried unsuccessfully to move up to pick, fell to #28.

Though he has not yet made it official (he has until Sunday), Malik Rose says he will probably exercise his option to remain with the Spurs another season for $2.3 million.  Meanwhile, Elliott will probably retire and Avery Johnson says it is 50/50 whether he will stay with the team or not.

Spur Sean Elliott says he will decide in the next two weeks whether or not to continue to play in the NBA, reports the AP.  He says he is leaning heavily toward retirement.

Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express writes about the Spurs shrewd decision in 1999 to draft Argentinian Emanuel Ginobili with a second-round pick.  He wasn't ready for the NBA, but also didn't mind playing overseas until he was ready.  He won't be available until the '02-'03 season, but he has come along nicely as a star on the best team in Europe and should be a mature player when he is available.  And, if he still can't make it in the NBA, he still only cost a second-round pick.

The Spurs' Danny Ferry made the $1 million veteran exception last year and, given San Antonio's many demands on their salary cap, would like for him to re-sign for the same amount.  However, given his superb 3-point shooting that will be useful against zone defenses next season, another team may well offer more than San Antonio can afford to match.

NBA.com writes a piece on the SPurs' preparation for the draft, where they will pick last in the first round.  VP of Basketball Operations Sam Schuler, who has a good history of picking good players late in the first round, says that they will take the best overall athlete if they use that pick.  Trading it is a possibility, especially since they must split their available money between Robinson, Anderson and their other free agents.  Though the Spurs have never drafted and kept an underclassman, Schuler says they may do so in this draft as an investment for the future.