2007 NBA Draft brought Tiago Splitter into the Spurs’ fold

Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty imagesWelcome to the Open Thread. During the month of July, we are talking NBA Draft. As we lead up to the 2021 NBA Draft on July 29th, we will be revisiting the Spurs draft choices. Today we remember 2007 NBA Draft.

After winning a championship against the (first incarnation) LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, the Spurs went into the 2007 NBA Draft in search of a big man.

Although the Spurs drafted Brazilian Power Forward/Center Tiago Splitter, he signed a two-year contract with Saski Baskonia that paid him significantly more than rookie scale would allow. The wait was worth it as Splitter joined in 2010 as a back-up center before joining the…