Spurs sign Ray Allen and Andrei Kirilenko.

After taking a look at available free agents, the San Antonio Spurs have agreed with veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen on a one-year contract.

Allen previously played for the Miami Heat during both NBA Finals encounters between the two teams. The clutch marksman should fit in nicely with the defending champions and will hopefully knock down big shots for the Spurs, instead of against them.

In need of an adequate backup small forward, the Spurs also reached a deal with Andrei Kirilenko, whose best years were with the Utah Jazz. The versatile Russian, nickname "AK-47", will keep defense a priority whenever Kawhi Leonard is off the floor, something that the Spurs have needed. After bouncing around to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, "AK-47" voiced a desire to end his career in his native Russia--until the offer came along from the defending NBA Champions.

These two acquisitions bring the Spurs roster to 14, after bringing back Tiago Splitter (C) after obliging Kevin Garnett's (PF) request to "return home" to the Timberwolves and Boris Diaw (PF) after losing Luis Scola (PF) and Marco Belinelli (SG) to free agency. Here are the players.

Starting Lineup:

C/Tiago Splitter
PF/Tim Duncan
SF/Kawhi Leonard
SG/Ray Allen
PG/Tony Parker

Second Unit:

C/Jeff Ayres
PF/Boris Diaw
SF/Andrei Kirilenko
SG/Danny Green
PG/Manu Ginobili

Reserves:
Tyrus Thomas (PF)
Austin Daye (SF/C)
Ray Macallum (PG)
Glen Davis (C/PF)

An interesting change comes with Manu Ginobili, who will try a new role as the backup point guard, having previously won Sixth Man of the Year as the best bench player on the team. A good ball handler and pick-and-roll leader, Ginobili should be able to thrive in this new role, which became available once the Spurs decided to not seek a backup point guard in free agency.

Prologue

Winning Game 4 of the NBA Finals would earn the San Antonio Spurs, led by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, a third championship through four consecutive seasons, as the battle-tested squad swept the resurgent Cleveland Cavaliers team that boasted a new 'big 3' led by its prodigal son LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Although all four games were fierce, they culminated into a victory that once again reminded the rest of the NBA why the San Antonio Spurs are here to stay, in spite of Father Time and the rise of competition in the wild western conference.

Before celebrating a 3rd title win against the Cavaliers, the Spurs first suffered bitter defeat against longtime rival Miami Heat, then led by LeBron James, whose team stunned the Spurs with a 4-1 championship rout, winning both games in Miami and then 2 out of 3 in San Antonio. This heartbreak would drive the Spurs to improve the roster and deliver payback against the Heat the next season, sweeping them in 4 games--but not before surviving a 7 game series against the Dallas Mavericks.

The following season, the Spurs claimed a second championship against the New York Knicks after besting the OKC Thunder for the western conference crown, and then again versus the aforementioned Cavaliers--but not before nearly succumbing to the young 'n tough Portland Trailblazers in a 7 game series during the second round of the playoffs. Despite new acquisition Rajon Rondo, the Mavericks were unable to give the Spurs as much trouble as two years prior, neighing in defeat after just 5 games.

A new season in the NBA always brings change, but a winning tradition and culture is not going anywhere anytime soon for the San Antonio Spurs, as they seek to reach the mountaintop once again. What new players will join the cause and be worthy enough to play under Coach Greg Popovich's tutelage? What teams will make a stand against the resilient champions this time?

Will the Spurs succeed in the quest of winning 4 championships in 5 seasons?