With Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker back in the lineup, it was no surprise that there was no longer room for Blake Ahearn in the San Antonio lineup, and that Ahearn will be headed back to the D-League.

But Ahearn won't be coming back to the Dakota Wizards - in fact he'll be playing against them. That's because the Spurs didn't release Ahearn, rather they assigned him to their D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. Ahearn's new team will be facing his old one on Wednesday.

"I already talked to (coach Duane Ticknor) and Will Frisby and called (general manager) Tom Wagganer," Ahearn said. "It will be a little awkward, but a good awkward.

"I'll try not to call out all their plays," he said with a laugh.

Although the 24-year-old Ahearn obviously would have liked to stay with the Spurs, his assignment definitely has some silver linings. As an assigned player, Ahearn will still collect his NBA salary. And the Spurs are one of three NBA teams that own their affiliate, and they clearly have an interest in the D-League. Finally by assigning Ahearn instead of releasing him, it shows the Spurs think Ahearn may have a future in the NBA.

"If they thought I was just an insurance policy, they would have just cut me," Ahearn said. "I'm a competitor, so I'd rather be playing."

It was the second NBA call-up for Ahearn, who won the D-League rookie of the year award last season for Dakota.

This time he played in three games, averaging 2.7 points in six minutes per game.

"The fact that it was with the San Antonio Spurs, one of the greatest franchises in sports was the best thing," Ahearn said. "They're a top-notch organization with great people - great coaches and great players."