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According to Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News, Danny Ferry is about to return to the San Antonio Spurs front office.

Ferry, who resigned as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of LeBron James’ free agency defection in July, officially will be announced as a member of the Spurs’ front office by week’s end.

A source familiar with the team’s discussions with Ferry confirmed a YahooSports report that Ferry soon will re-unite with the team.

A member of the Spurs’ 2003 NBA title team, Ferry will replace Dell Demps, the club’s director of pro player personnel.

This likely puts Ferry in the clean-up spot of the Spurs front office, behind RC Buford, Gregg Popovich and assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey. It could be considered a significant step back for Ferry, who was the Cavs GM for five seasons and in the running for the Portland Trail Blazers vacant GM spot after his resignation in Cleveland. One has to wonder if Ferry looks at returning San Antonio as a temporary stepping stone to another GM position in a season or two.

Danny Ferry will also take over operations of the Austin Toros from Demps. His first order of business will likely be to find a replacement for Quin Snyder, who left his position as the Toros head coach this summer to join Doug Collins’ staff for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Spurs can only hope that Ferry is able to help replicate the success of Demps when it comes to player development. Though it’s impossible to know how much Demps actually influenced player development in his time, the progress of young players like George Hill, DeJuan Blair, Malik Hairston and Ian Mahinmi speaks volumes to the growth done at both the NBA and D-League level.