Spurs hopeful Ginobili will be ready for March 10 return

Manu Ginobili took part in some light non-contact shooting drills Monday, and the Spurs think he's on track to return March 10 against the Chicago Bulls, according to the San Antonio Express-News' Buck Harvey.

"I think he's just been able to walk out on the floor and shoot a ball," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Ginobili on Monday. "Very carefully, so it doesn’t bounce back at him. That would be bad."

The last line was a little noir humor from Popovich. Ginobili underwent testicular surgery Feb. 4 after taking an inadvertent knee to the groin from Ryan Anderson of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The veteran is averaging 10 points in 19.7 minutes off the bench. There has been some conjecture that the Spurs would be interested in Kevin Martin if he was facing an extended absence, but that appears unlikely if he can return this month.

The Spurs officially added another veteran in Andre Miller on Monday. Miller, who turns 40 in less than three weeks, is the NBA's oldest active player. He joins the 38-year-old Ginobili and 39-year-old Tim Duncan on the league's most aged roster.