Originally Posted by
TD 21
Yeah, but they didn't pay him $3.4M to be inactive. And the reality is, him barely playing that season was really the perfect storm. 1) He misses virtually all of training camp/preseason. 2) In his absence, the team goes on to begin what eventually became one of the greatest starts in league history. 3) Though many of us thought it was ridiculous, Pop doesn't view Duncan and Splitter as being able to play together with any degree of regularity. But he wanted to keep McDyess' minutes managed throughout the season and Bonner's one dimensional game from starting. Yet at the same time, both were locks to be in the rotation. So that left Blair as a default starter.
With Butler, it wasn't a given he'd be behind Elson and Oberto. It was more of a three man competition for playing time. They were hoping one or two would separate themselves, which is exactly what happened when Butler proved he wasn't an NBA player.
Like Splitter, Bonner was not going to be inactive. Plus, he was being groomed as Horry's eventual successor and in an effort to keep Horry's minutes managed throughout the season, it was obvious he'd get some meaningful minutes.
I agree about De Colo getting plenty of DNP-CD's. I always thought he'd be the fifth guard (with an outside chance to overtake Mills), but inactive? He'd have signed on for this, why? It doesn't make sense. And not only that, but Neal is no longer a fit. Even if all they can get is a relatively high 2nd or a project big for him, I'll take that over him leaving for nothing in a year, particularly because I don't see a roll for him in the interim.