Evanescent footprints stir ripples on the Riverwalk.

Seemingly timeless, the Spurs defy to improve every season.

A flash-bulb memory within a four-game sweep of the Toronto Raptors, a seventh championship run in eight seasons, the San Antonio Spurs embraced yet a new challenge.

The Gait Toward Eight.

Should they reach that destination of earning 8 consecutive championships, a league record would be matched, and challenged further...

Standing in San Antonio's way are the familiar faces...the elite western titans, Golden State Warriors...the fervent Houston Rockets, the lightning-quick Oklahoma City Thunder...the new-look, refueled Los Angeles Lakers presiding under new rule.

A bombshell hit when LeBron joined the Lakers.

KD & Kawhi dueled for the west crown.

Not-too-distant memories depict a 4-0 sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers, a 2-0 turned 2-2 earned 4-2 mini-war with the Oklahoma City Thunder, then a 4-0 triumph for the crown of the Western Conference over the Golden State Warriors, but not before a the instant-highlight exchange of three-point haymakers by The Durantula and The Claw.

After a thorough analysis of team talent, studying playoff performance whilst acknowledging financial imposition, with months-long assessment of individual quality undergone...

Welcome Avery Bradley to the San Antonio Spurs.

The news broke.

With eyes on Bradley last summer before the Los Angeles Clippers acquired him from the Detroit Pistons (who acquired him from his original team, the Boston Celtics), President of Basketball Operations, RC Buford, put the boots on and got it done, making Avery Bradley the newest Spur, after standing pat last trade deadline. Part of the Texas alumni, Bradley's tenacious defense got him league-wide notice early in his career, with the Spurs needing that fire to roar again ever since losing Danny Green to Cleveland.

One piece of that yesteryear three-team trade, Jeremy Lamb is moving to the city of angels, with another staying put in Iman Shumpert, whose strong post-season effort justified "Shump" enabling his player option for the final year of his contract. With Bradley, the Spurs now have two defense-minded guards and one shooter behind them in Bryn Forbes, whose team option was accepted by the Spurs. Lamb had his highs and his lows in San Antone, but struggled in the playoffs. For salaries to work, the Spurs had to lose one of them and made their choice. They'll miss Lamb's athleticism, but for the sake of defense it was a clear choice.

Mario Hezonja will light up the Garden for the Knicks.

Caught in the trade winds are Mario Hezonja, whose agent told the Spurs he would choose to opt-out of his current deal to pursue a more lucrative opportunity--and rightfully so, given his promising play as a Spur--wound up being traded to the Knicks in a S&T arrangement for that higher-dollar deal, with New York's MSG squad being one he grew up rooting for in Croatia, donning his first Knicks jersey as a fan at age fourteen. "I'm happy for him, and I hope he does well under those brighter lights," Coach Popovich said on parting ways with the sharpshooter. Courtney Lee will also be heading to the west coast for the Clippers. The final piece of the trade?

Joakim Noah will wear his high-school number, 55, as a Spur.

"Spurs are an all-around fantastic team. Great coach, great players, great philosophy. I've played with Tony (Parker) and Bobo (Diaw) for many years with France, so it's definitely intriguing. Not to mention the battles I've had down low with their bigs over the years. We'll see what happens," now-former Knicks center, Joakim Noah, told reporters at the Spurs press conference discussing his excitement to be on the Spurs. Moving over to the Knicks for Noah's services will be Bismack Biyombo's expiring contract.

Rudy Gay signed a 2-year, 20 million dollar contract.

Taking at a look at the two big men revealed similar skill, with the Knicks looking to move on from Noah as they rebuild and the Spurs looking fondly at Noah's passing skills for a big man, his defense not cut far from Biyombo. The Knicks will also receive LA's oft-injured Milos Teodosic, healthy once more, who'll hopefully offer Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina some point-guard tips, while adding some flair to New York basketball with his own talent.

"He does things on the court that make you go, 'This guy is damn valuable!', so I dig the move," Coach Popovich said of Noah. "We'll put him to use here, that's for sure." Noah sat out most of last season due to in-team drama and clashing with the (now fired) coach. A few seasons ago, Joakim was in the MVP conversation with the Bulls and Popovich gave a good word to the media about who he'd cast a vote for, given that men are usually left out of the running. And it never hurts your team to have two past Defensive Player of the Year winners around.

Marksman Davis Bertans is back on a 2 year, 14.5 million deal.

In response to his consistent play on-and-off the bench for San Antonio, Rudy Gay took the solid offer by the Spurs to shore up their forward stock. A proven scorer and clutch performer that has meshed well with the team, Gay was hitting free agency after recovering from a severe achilles injury a couple seasons ago. Rudy stayed healthy last season, after going down in the playoffs during his first year as a Spur.

Recognizing for performance improvement, Davis Bertans was locked into a 2 year, 14.5 million deal after having some big games that showcased his killer touch from deep.

J-Smoove spent 2017 overseas for the Sichuan Blue Whales.

The final return comes from Josh "J-Smoove" Smith, taking the call from San Antonio. Smith was previously with the team two seasons ago, before not being re-signed last summer, opting to revive his NBA career and turn some heads with overseas play as part of the Sichuan Blue Whales. In one game, Smith had 41 points. The one constant being his defense, Smith's had a rocky career, with the only split of consistency coming from his time spent with the Spurs. Other points of interest this season will be Dejounte Murray's growth, Tony Parker's struggle with Father Time and the potential landmark tie of the Spurs winning eight consecutive titles in nine seasons.

As one King departs...

new forces rise in the East.

The wrath of the Warriors...

and roar of the Thunder...

It's showtime again in Los Angeles...

with a launch-party fueling in Houston.

Yet the Spurs Standard remains.

Timeless.

With the clean slate of the 2018 season, the Gait Toward Eight begins.