The San Antonio Spurs have exercised the third-year option for Kyle Anderson for the 16-17 season.

Anderson has earned a spot in the Spurs' 10-man rotation.

"You look back to opening night last year and I didn’t see the floor, so to be able to get out there and play the game I love was fun,” said Anderson.

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in efficiency differential during the preseason with a mark of +12.5.

During the 14-15 preseason, the Golden State Warriors had the league's best mark with +11.0, which became a first indicator of their jump as title contenders.

Here's the full rankings from the 15-16 preseason:

1. Thunder: 12.5
2. Celtics: 11.6
3. Grizzlies: 11.5
4. Wizards: 10.4
5. Hornets: 10.0
6. Pistons: 7.1
7. Raptors: 5.6
8. Pacers: 4.7
9. Knicks: 4.0
10. Suns: 3.9
11. Nuggets: 3.5
12. Kings: 3.3
13. Magic: 2.8
14. Blazers: 1.8
15. Jazz: 0.4
16. Heat: 0.0
17. Hawks: -0.7
18. Rockets: -0.7
19. Nets: -1.0
20. Warriors: -1.3
21. Spurs: -1.9
22. Lakers: -2.1
23. Bucks: -3.4
24. Bulls: -3.6
25. Pelicans: -3.6
26. Clippers: -4.2
27. Cavaliers: -6.5
28. 76ers: -8.6
29. Mavericks: -10.7
30. Wolves: -11.0

Gregg Popovich will replace Mike Krzyzewski as head coach of the United States basketball team after the 2016 Olympics.

Popovich will coach the team over the course of the 2017-20 quadrennium.

The 2019 FIBA World Cup will be held in China, while the 2020 Summer Olympics will be held in Tokyo.

Jerry Colangelo will continue in 2017-20 as Managing Director, while Krzyzewski will serve as a special advisor.

LaMarcus Aldridge didn't expect to leave the Portland Trail Blazers when he decided to play through a broken thumb and wait until after the season for surgery.

Aldridge said in 2014 that he planned on re-signing with the Blazers.

"You know I think just weighing my options and just going through the process really kind of helped me see what I valued," said Aldridge. "It wasn’t easy leaving. I love Portland and I have so much history there and I knew it like the back of my hand, so the decision to leave was never easy. When I put off [thumb surgery] I definitely didn’t think I was leaving. I wanted to maximize that moment. I didn’t want to waste that. I wanted to be in the moment, I wanted to help finish the season out well and to play in the playoffs. So in that moment I was in the mind-set that I was coming back.

"But I think as I went through the process more I just value being closer to home, I value seeing my kids more. I feel like, of course, Portland didn’t want me to leave, but I feel like at the end of the day it’s good to have a fresh start. You know we had first round [exits] for so many years, and then we finally got to the second round, but I think for both sides it’s actually really good. It’s better to get a fresh start and now they have no battle with who’s the face of the team. Damian [Lillard] is a very high talent so he’s going to be good for years to come. So I think in a way it actually made it easier on them too."

Aldridge was asked if the Blazers could have done anything differently to keep him.

"No, I think they did everything that they could," said Aldridge. "I thought they were trying to see what I wanted, what I needed. They were trying to keep me involved every step of the process. I thought that they definitely made me feel like they wanted me back. They were very interested in having me back, they wanted me to still be the focal point of the offense, so I don’t think there was much they could have done. I think it was just that time, where we had tried and tried and tried and I feel like San Antonio, and being home, it was just a lot of positives. Like I said being home was one of my goals and to be there and to just see my family was key."

The San Antonio Spurs have waived Youssou Ndoye and Deshaun Thomas.

Thomas was a 2013 second round pick by the Spurs out of Ohio State.

Ndoye went undrafted in 2015 out of St. Bonaventure.

Jimmer Fredette will be waived by the San Antonio Spurs.

Fredette signed a camp deal with the Spurs this offseason.

Fredette spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Gregg Popovich "clearly, unquestionably the No. 1 choice" to become the next head coach of USA Basketball, according to a person involved in the coaching business."

Popovich, however, has promised LaMarcus Aldridge he'd remain with the San Antonio Spurs for the duration of his contract that runs through the 18-19 season.

Popovich would also have access to potential NBA free agents every summer in that role, which may be viewed as a conflict of interest.

There is a feeling among NBA coaches that they'd like to see one of their own become head coach of the national team.

LaMarcus Aldridge missed Wednesday's preseason game with back spasms.

Aldridge said he awoke in the team hotel with a stiff back.

“Probably just slept funny,” said Aldridge, who was walking gingerly in the locker room before the game.

Aldridge hopes to return by Sunday, when he is scheduled to make his home preseason debut against Detroit.

Tiago Splitter braced himself for the possibility of being traded by the San Antonio Spurs this past offseason.

With the Spurs pursuing major free agents, Splitter was an obvious candidate to be dealt to open up cap space.

“I don’t say I love it, but I expected it," said Splitter.

“I knew the changes they wanted to do with this franchise,” he said. “I knew they wanted to bring a new superstar to the team. The way they could do that was to trade somebody.”

Gregg Popovich called Splitter to inform him he had been traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

“Once I accepted it, Atlanta was the best option,” Splitter said. “I really like the team I’m with now.”

Kawhi Leonard is completely unconcerned with individual awards.

“I just want (another) one of those up there,” Leonard said in reference to the San Antonio Spurs' championship banners in their practice facility.

“In 2014 I wasn’t an All-Star or Defensive Player of the Year,” Leonard told the Express-News. “If I can get back and win a championship, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

“That sounds like him,” Gregg Popovich said. “ … He really is more interested in winning than he is with (individual awards). He’s a really selfless kind of guy. … It’s not about him in any way, shape, or form. It’s always been about the group.”

Leonard will be used more in the offense this season.

“I’m not one of the guys in the league for the fame,” Leonard said. “I’m here so I can take of my family, my mom, my friends and take care of myself. I love the game of basketball and as long as I can do that, keep playing and try to get some more championships with the organization, I’ll be happy. I don’t care about winning an MVP – the MVP doesn’t mean you’re the best player in the league.”