FanHouse Keith Bogans

Free-agent swingman Keith Bogans will sign a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs, sources confirmed Monday to FanHouse.

Bogans, a solid defensive player, is being looked at as an heir apparent to Bruce Bowen, who retired recently after being San Antonio's perimeter defensive stopper throughout much of the decade. The Spurs had been grooming Ime Udoka for that role, but they are electing not to bring him back as a free agent after he played two seasons with the team.

Bogans, who will sign a guaranteed deal worth the minimum of $1.03 million, last season averaged 5.6 points for Orlando and Milwaukee. He has a 7.5 average over six seasons.

So what's the word from Nuggets guard J.R. Smith on his seven-game suspension to start the season?

Well, actually there isn't one yet.

"The team said I'm not allowed to speak to nobody yet,'' Smith said Thursday, saying team officials have told him not to talk to the press until media day Sept. 25.

Smith was asked, though, if he at least wanted to make a comment on whether the suspension, handed down Aug. 28, was fair.

"You're trying to get me fined,'' Smith said.

It turns out the desire to win a championship wasn't the only reason Grant Hill wanted to leave Orlando. Hill, a natural small forward, started at shooting guard out of necessity for the Magic last year. After the team committed big bucks to acquire stud small forward Rashard Lewis this summer, it was clear that Hill would again be asked to play out of position.

"They got a good, young stud in Rashard and he's exactly what that team needs," said Hill ... "I told them, I'm not a (shooting guard). I did it last year, but that's just not who I am. But there's no bitterness whatsoever."

Unfortunately, an out-of-position Hill was still better than any of the in-position options currently on Orlando's roster. So who's left? Re-tread journeymen Keyon Dooling and Keith Bogans are options, as is J.J. Redick, last year's first-round draft pick who played in just 42 games. Signing another free agent is technically still an option, but after Lewis' contract hits the books, the best the Magic can offer anyone is the veteran's minimum of about $1.2 million -- and you'd be lucky to find rotation filler for that amount, let alone a legitimate starter.