Tonight is why trading Neal might not be worth it...

[Chinook]

Lol, yeah, and there are other bad examples besides the Scola trade when the Spurs are salary-dumping/panicking. But that doesn't mean Pop doesn't have a good bead on what the team needs. He can be wrong in his execution (Jefferson), but he's usually right in his motivations. I just don't get how people can doubt a coach who in the very least has built the best system in the NBA.

[crc21209]

Basically the only trade chips the Spurs have are Blair and Bonner. At this point, and as timvp has already mentioned...the Spurs can't trade Splitter anymore. He just fits this team too well. The Diaw/Splitter/De Colo/Manu lineup is a great 4-some off the bench because they can all pass the ball so damn well. And they can't trade Neal because he has the balls to make the game winning shot. A team would be lucky enough to have one guy like that, and we have TWO cold blooded shooters in Jack and Neal. So at this point, all they have to try and trade is Bonner and Blair...

[Chinook]

I'd be much more on board of letting him go if we can get a solid big back.

This is what people are saying. If there is a solid big to be had, Neal is expendable. Some people in this thread say no even under those cir stances. We can argue (and have) about who counts as a solid big, and whether a trade for such a big is plausible, but I feel like a good big is more than worth trading Neal.

[Juggity]

People consistently underestimate what Gary brings to this team. At this point, he is becoming quite valuable and his defense is much improved. I can't think of any currently available bigs who'd bring more to the table than Gary does right now.

[Chinook]

People consistently underestimate what Gary brings to this team. At this point, he is becoming quite valuable and his defense is much improved. I can't think of any currently available bigs who'd bring more to the table than Gary does right now.

No one is underestimating Neal. Saying that he is tradeable is not saying he is a bad player. People on this forum say, "Trade Blair or Bonner, not Neal," like what other teams value enough to give up a player the Spurs want doesn't factor into this. What people have done consistently is overestimate the uniqueness of Neal's skillset. He's an unconscious shooter on the second-best offensive team in the league. He's a clutch player on a team with (at least) four other clutch players. The Spurs can score plenty without him. And I know people are going to respond with, "But when the system breaks down, Neal can still get points." And that's true, but the Spurs are only going to go as far as their system takes them anyway. If Neal has to play "hero ball" in the playoffs, the Spurs are done.

Currently available bigs probably can't give the Spurs what Neal can. But Neal can't give the Spurs what most bigs can, as well. The question for the Spurs' front office is if the addition of an available big combined with other players picking up the offensive slack will lead to a better team than they have now.

[Chinook]

timvp , do you have an opinion of Neal's tradeability? We seem to be at loggerheads here.

[deibero]

the guy makes aprox 1m this season. theres nothing you can get in return in this league that will get you equal value to neal's contract... any stiff makes more than that.

only option is packaging him together with bonner and getting a 5m player back, because with blair it only gives you 2m to add back, which is still nothing.

[superjames1992]

If we could get a solid big for him, I'd trade him in a heartbeat. We have a plethora of guards on this team. Meanwhile, our frontline is sketchy (though improving) and we could certainly use some outside help on that front. If you want a solid big, you're going to have to give up something to get it...

His salary seems to be an issue, though.

[jiggy_55]

Green and Neal were both fantastic against Houston, both are integral parts of this team, and both are indispensable. It's that simple. Neal is averaging a career best in points despite his 3p% being a few percentage points lower than previous years (even when including this game) and he's doing that in just 3 extra minutes per game due to the injuries of Kawhi and Sjax.

I would really hope Pop stops experimenting with him at PG in tight games, as he's simply not a point guard and that's clear. Although sometimes he excels and can make great passes, he's just too turnover or mistake prone and I would rather see Nando or Manu running the point while Neal sticks to shooting guard and shoots lights out. I was surprised at why Nando wasn't used in the second half I thought he did ok and he's definitely the better PG and runs the pick and roll beautifully with Splitter and our other bigs.

[Boomersgold]

Green and Neal were both fantastic against Houston, both are integral parts of this team, and both are indispensable. It's that simple. Neal is averaging a career best in points despite his 3p% being a few percentage points lower than previous years (even when including this game) and he's doing that in just 3 extra minutes per game due to the injuries of Kawhi and Sjax.

I would really hope Pop stops experimenting with him at PG in tight games, as he's simply not a point guard and that's clear. Although sometimes he excels and can make great passes, he's just too turnover or mistake prone and I would rather see Nando or Manu running the point while Neal sticks to shooting guard and shoots lights out. I was surprised at why Nando wasn't used in the second half I thought he did ok and he's definitely the better PG and runs the pick and roll beautifully with Splitter and our other bigs.

De Colo was used in the second half...

[Mal]

Why would anybody trade Neal ? He is cheap, and trading him for late 1rd pick make no sense at all, and not sure if anybody would trade for him. Spurs will have salary space with Manu, Jax and Booner off the books.

[DejuanorwhatDude]

If Gary Neal for Marcin Gortat straight up was on the table, take it. Otherwise, you'd better not be trading Gary Neal's coldblooded shotmaking ability to get a guy whos a traffic cone in the lane.

[DejuanorwhatDude]

In fact, the way we're playing right now, why is anyone interested in trading anyone at all? You might be able to get a player back in return that fixes one area of the team (interior defense) but you just open up another hole. Whatever we're doing seems to be working. IMO its not worth it to with team chemistry unless you're getting a steal for the trade.

[FkLA]

All of you who suggested we cut him are dumbasses. Those that wanted him at the end of the bench behind Patty are stupid too. Guys who have balls made of steel and make under one mill dont grow on trees. Add to it the fact that Manu is really the only guy who handles the ball alot and comes up big in crunchtime, and it just made zero sense to get rid of Gary. Dude is an assassin tbh.

[DapDaGenius]

You don't trade someone like Neal, he is a great shooter and beat a rape charge. C'mon now. If we traded Neal hopefully it would be for a young athletic big man with great amounts of potential.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Everyone but Duncan can be traded for the right pieces, tbh. Neal is definitely on the trading block too. Spurs will not use 5 swingmen in the playoffs.

[Boomersgold]

You don't trade someone like Neal, he is a great shooter and beat a rape charge. C'mon now. If we traded Neal hopefully it would be for a young athletic big man with great amounts of potential.

How do you feel about Donatas Motiejūnas? I hear he's pretty good and put up great numbers in summer league.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

How do you feel about Donatas Motiejūnas? I hear he's pretty good and put up great numbers in summer league.

Motiejunas's trade value is much higher than Neal's. Would be an awesome trade if Houston are dumb enough though.

[99 Problems]

When you consider the value teams place on all out shooters in the draft recently, Jimmer, Beal, even Rivers, we are very fortunate to have guys like Neal & Mills who so far have cost us next to nothing.

[DapDaGenius]

How do you feel about Donatas Motiejūnas? I hear he's pretty good and put up great numbers in summer league.

He could have some potential with the Spurs, he seems to be a very quick thinker and have good reaction speed. But overall I'm not sure about him stats wise, bc I forgot about him until now and I didn't keep up with him. Is he still on the Rockets....or what? His stats on NBA.com say he has only played 4 games???? He seems to be decent at least as of now, so why hasn't he played more? Again I don't know what has happened with him/even if he is on the team or put in the d-league...

[Boomersgold]

He could have some potential with the Spurs, he seems to be a very quick thinker and have good reaction speed. But overall I'm not sure about him stats wise, bc I forgot about him until now and I didn't keep up with him. Is he still on the Rockets....or what? His stats on NBA.com say he has only played 4 games???? He seems to be decent at least as of now, so why hasn't he played more? Again I don't know what has happened with him/even if he is on the team or put in the d-league...

He played really well in the summer league, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds. Coach Mchale just doesn't use him. I believe he's currently with the Rockets.

[DapDaGenius]

He played really well in the summer league, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds. Coach Mchale just doesn't use him. I believe he's currently with the Rockets.

Nice, but are we sure that this is a guy we would trade Neal for? I mean Neal gives us depth at PG and SG and has came through for us plenty of times.

Wouldn't it make more sense that we trade someone like Nando? ESPN Trade machine says a Nando-Montiejunas trade would work and on top of that, both teams would be in the need of one of those players. The Rockets are stocked with like 8 bigs while the Spurs have 7 people at the SG and PG positions.

I'm just not sure if trading Neal for this guy(who is unproven so far in the NBA) would be wise, to me it would make more sense to trade Nando because both don't have too much NBA experience under their belt.

I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, feel free to correct me.

[Mel_13]

he can get 5-7 mil this offseason

People said the same thing about Green last summer. If the Spurs don't trade Neal, they'll make him a restricted free agent. 29 year old, undersized shooting guards that are restricted free agents will have a limited market. There may be some team willing to use their full MLE on him, but I don't believe it's likely.

This at ude is why people on here propose so many unrealistic trades. You can't get good players by trading bad players. You have to give up something you'd rather keep in hopes that what you get back will offset what you let go. Neal is valuable to this team, and that makes him valuable to other teams. But the second-best offensive team in the league would probably be able to handle the loss of a shooter. No one is saying to just get rid of Neal. He should not be moved for a second-rounder or anything that won't help the team right now, but if the Spurs can trade him along with other pieces for the player they think puts them over the top, they have to do it.

Proof that Chinook is the best new poster that this board has seen in some time.

[100%duncan]

yeah, let's trade someone that actually ing helps the win column......

ing shoot me already..

[letmk]

That's your opinion of Neal's relative value, and you're very much en led to it. You should go over to the Think Tank for more-directed discussion on trade ideas. I'll say this here, though: There is no reason why Neal can't be a starting two-guard. There are systems like Phoenix' from years past and Orlando with Howard where Neal could start just fine. The reason he doesn't have that opportunity with the Spurs is that Danny Green fills the role better. Ideally, the Spurs' wings would be interchangeable, defending and shooting corner threes. Neal can't really play small-forward though, so that hurts his value in the starting line up. That's also the reason why Pop pushes for Neal to play the point off the bench.

Also, he can certainly be the centerpiece for teams like the Wolves. If they want to trade Williams, and (key phrase) if Pop thinks Williams could help the Spurs this year (and he'd have to, to commit the Spurs to that contract), then a Neal + filler for Williams deal is very possible. The better Neal plays, the more possible those deals become.

Let's use a simple math even though it might be inaccurate. Basically, Neal means 7 to us at a very low price but only 3 to other teams. So he is nearly untradeable in this sense. It's not that you don't trade your LeBron or Durant. No, not at all.

So either you can't get players that can help Spurs more than Neal, or if the other team is willing to part with this kind of player, they want more than Neal.