R.C. Buford and the San Antonio Spurs lost Tim Duncan to retirement to headline an offseason with a considerable amount of roster turnover.

“It was a lonely summer,” he said. “I thought I must have made somebody mad. But I’m excited about our new group. We’ve got some really terrific people who have joined our organization and there’s a great opportunity to grow together.”

Buford and the Spurs did re-sign Manu Ginobili to a one-year, $14 million deal.

“To have had to replace them both at the same time would have been even more impactful than when each one decides to leave as individuals,” Buford said. “I don’t know how you judge that or gauge that other than that we know there is a transition approaching for our organization and it will be better if it’s a more managed transition than if it all happens at the same time.”