Spurs add former Mavericks guard Josh Howard

The Spurs’ quixotic search for a backup small forward took a left turn Friday, as the team moved to sign 10-year veteran Josh Howard to a non-guaranteed contract, NBA sources say. The deal is expected to be finalized sometime this afternoon.

For the Spurs, it is a low-risk move that will require patience if it is to pay off. In fact, there is a good chance the 6-foot-7 Howard will not open the season on the Spurs’ 15-man roster.

Howard is 33 and coming off his second major knee surgery in less than three years, having had his feel-good comeback in Minnesota sidetracked by a torn ACL in his right knee last December.

Howard owns a career scoring average of 14.3 points per game, with a high of 19.9 per game coming in 2007-08 with Dallas.