Looks like Gary Neal will NOT be back.

[benefactor]

Bringing back Neal now would be foolish. Let him walk to whatever team wants him for whatever price.

[raybies]

1. Bringing Neal back was the first choice for the Spurs

2. Neal was asking for more years and/or dollars than the Spurs were willing to spend.

3. Spurs move quickly to sign Belinelli as an affordable Neal replacement.

4. Neal discovers that there is no market for his services at the dollars/years he wanted.

5. Neal's price comes down to the point that he is too good a value for the Spurs not to match.

6. Spurs retain Neal, but now have a ridiculous logjam at the guard positions.

7. At least two of Nando, Joseph, Mills are traded this summer or one of them plus Belinelli are traded when Belinelli is eligible to be traded.

8. Spurs and Bucks are logical trade partners. Excess guards for Mbah a Moute would work.

I was doing some research on what the Buck could offer in a sign and trade. Realistically it's Mbah a Moute or Udoh. I don't think that's enough value for him as Luc would likely be a third stringer, and the same for Udoh. I would think we would go for a 1st round pick, unlikely given the Bucks seeding, another rotational player preferably the point, or a young piece like Henson.

Ilysova, or Henson. Milwaukee might on Henson but for Ilysova probably not. They are going to need his production and a Bonner, Neal, Nando/ Cory package wouldn't be enough, one would think.

Although they need to fill out the roster and the Bucks have been known to make questionable decisions.

[raybies]

Neal is a fine SG but, given Spurs roster, he will end up playing PG if he is re-signed.
After what he did when he played PG in the past two years, I'm sure I don't want that.

Agreed. He doesn't really handle being pressured well, but he does show flashes that he is able. He's at his best as a SG.

[apalisoc_9]

Ilyasova is not a possibility. That said, he'd make perfect spur.

[raybies]

My guess is 7 million over 2 years.

That's about what Green makes and he is a starter. Around 6 million at 2 years sound right, if they are keeping this two year trend up, But a four year deal at 12 million doesn't sound bad either.

[Darkwaters]

I still think it's tempting to trade Green right now, his trade value is as good as it's ever gonna get...

There's too many guards and too many bigs, so the Green + Bonner package is on the table if they get an offer they like...

The problem is for all the shooters this team has, most of them can't defend for crap.

Mills - Crap
Bonner - well below average
Belinelli - well below average
Neal - Crap

Green - Very solid, excellent shooter
Leonard - Very solid, not nearly as good of a shooter as everyone above him on this list

Trading Green may sound good in theory, but it strips something from this team. Being able to keep capable shooters on the floor while limiting the number of players you have to "hide" on offense made a lot of difference. Green was a huge part of that.

[SpurPadre]

The problem is for all the shooters this team has, most of them can't defend for crap.

Mills - Crap
Bonner - well below average
Belinelli - well below average
Neal - Crap

Green - Very solid, excellent shooter
Leonard - Very solid, not nearly as good of a shooter as everyone above him on this list

Trading Green may sound good in theory, but it strips something from this team. Being able to keep capable shooters on the floor while limiting the number of players you have to "hide" on offense made a lot of difference. Green was a huge part of that.

That's not true on Marco. He improved quite noticeably on D this year under Thibs and in the playoffs as well.

[SpursDynasty21]

It looks like there could be a trade coming up, if Neal is re-signed.

[Darkwaters]

Ilysova, or Henson. Milwaukee might on Henson but for Ilysova probably not. They are going to need his production and a Bonner, Neal, Nando/ Cory package wouldn't be enough, one would think.

Although they need to fill out the roster and the Bucks have been known to make questionable decisions.

I looked at Henson out of curiosity. The guy is a throwback Spur of old. He shot 53% from the FT line last year. That's classic Spurs material!

That being said, his averages look solid, but it's based off of 13MPG, which means it's probably all garbage time from the regular times the Bucks got blown out last season. Basically, those stats don't mean a whole lot of anything.

But that FT percentage....I instantly had visions of Spurs greats like Bruce Bowen.

In all seriousness though, it's generally good practice to trade with Milwaukee. They basically always lose their trades.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

That's not true on Marco. He improved quite noticeably on D this year under Thibs and in the playoffs as well.

I was thinking the same thing. He was a solid average playing with the Bulls and in some stints above average.

[Darkwaters]

That's not true on Marco. He improved quite noticeably on D this year under Thibs and in the playoffs as well.

Just because you go from a 2 to a 3 doesn't mean you're average. Look, I love Marco, and have for a long time, but it's definitely true.

[Raven]

I was doing some research on what the Buck could offer in a sign and trade. Realistically it's Mbah a Moute or Udoh. I don't think that's enough value for him as Luc would likely be a third stringer, and the same for Udoh. I would think we would go for a 1st round pick, unlikely given the Bucks seeding, another rotational player preferably the point, or a young piece like Henson.

Ilysova, or Henson. Milwaukee might on Henson but for Ilysova probably not. They are going to need his production and a Bonner, Neal, Nando/ Cory package wouldn't be enough, one would think.

Although they need to fill out the roster and the Bucks have been known to make questionable decisions.

wow, pendergraph and belinelli for either udoh or mbah would be great, even if i don't consider them good.. getting a first rounder or iliasova or freaking henson is borderline pau gasol trade..

[SpurPadre]

Is there a possibility this is foreshadowing a sign and trade to get Monta Ellis to be our backup PG?

[Raven]

That's not true on Marco. He improved quite noticeably on D this year under Thibs and in the playoffs as well.

you obviously have never seen belinelli play.. first you say that he's more athletic than green, then that he is not a below average defender... seriously, it's not like he's an unknown quan y.

[davidbowie]

yeah welcome back gary!

[SpurPadre]

you obviously have never seen belinelli play.. first you say that he's more athletic than green, then that he is not a below average defender... seriously, it's not like he's an unknown quan y.

You're really analyzing everything I put out on Marco, aren't you? Any ways, I've seen him play and the guy can ball. The guy can create his own shot and can take it successfully to the rim. He is not a defensive wizard but he stays with his man and makes shooters work for their shot and it definitely showed against the Nets and Heat in the playoffs.

[timtonymanu]

Yeah something has to be up. I don't see the Spurs handing out 15 guaranteed contracts in July.

I like Gary and think he can be useful, but the Spurs already have too many guards and I much prefer Beli over him.

[Darkwaters]

Is there a possibility this is foreshadowing a sign and trade to get Monta Ellis to be our backup PG?

Another guard? I find it highly doubtful.

Consider that we'd sign Neal and acquire Ellis. That's 9 guards. But of course players would have to go to Milwaukee, and we'd probably send at least two (my guess would be Mills and DeColo). We still then have 7 guards...all of them deserving of minutes.

Parker
Joseph
Ginobili
Green
Belinelli
Ellis
Neal

Seriously, who are you going to bench there? And you can steal a few minutes at the 3, but Leonard is going to soak up the lions share of those minutes anyways.

I guess you could send out Joseph also in that trade. But does Milwaukee want to acquire their whole guard rotation as a transplant from San Antonio? And does San Antonio have enough PG's at that juncture? Besides, Bonner probably has to move in that trade to make the salaries come close, and that's 3-4 players leaving San Antonio to Milwaukee's one. Do they want all that garbage from us?

[Duncanonu]

1. Bringing Neal back was the first choice for the Spurs

2. Neal was asking for more years and/or dollars than the Spurs were willing to spend.

3. Spurs move quickly to sign Belinelli as an affordable Neal replacement.

4. Neal discovers that there is no market for his services at the dollars/years he wanted.

5. Neal's price comes down to the point that he is too good a value for the Spurs not to match.

6. Spurs retain Neal, but now have a ridiculous logjam at the guard positions.

7. At least two of Nando, Joseph, Mills are traded this summer or one of them plus Belinelli are traded when Belinelli is eligible to be traded.

8. Spurs and Bucks are logical trade partners. Excess guards for Mbah a Moute would work.

Mbah a Moute? IDK, offensively He is a horrible fit for Spurs system. He can be guarded like Rondo (as in not guarded outside of 14 feet or so). However, on defense and in the locker room he'd be the perfect fit. Interesting idea.

As for Neal, I'm scared if they re-sign him, he logs minutes at PG again. Dudes handles are not good, offense slows to a crawl until inevitably Manu throws up some junk with the shot clock expiring. Go away Neal or play spot minutes as a SG when Green and Marco aren't hitting. Unfortunately, Pop will squeeze him in at PG.

Is there any talk of moving a guy like Patty Mills? Mills holds value and to be honest with you, most teams are dumbfounded as to why he rides the Spurs bench. If we aren't going to play him, can we move him? All I know is that the Spurs shouldn't be carrying all these PG's. Especially when you take into account Manu and Neal (if back) as well.

I agree dealing two guards for a true SF would be nice. I'd like to see Neal and Nando gone, but thats just me.

Spurs also still after Morrow as well.

[Baam]

Maybe a a trade involving Draymond Green, Golden State has too many SF now, not sure who they'd want back tho...

[ohmwrecker]

PG Parker/Ellis/Cojo
SG Green/Manu/Beli
SF Kawhi/Beli/Manu
PF Duncan/Boris/Moute (or, Udoh)
C Splitter/Duncan/Baynes

Make this happen, RC.

[Raven]

You're really analyzing everything I put out on Marco, aren't you? Any ways, I've seen him play and the guy can ball. The guy can create his own shot and can take it successfully to the rim. He is not a defensive wizard but he stays with his man and makes shooters work for their shot and it definitely showed against the Nets and Heat in the playoffs.

so that's all you've seen of the guy? in that case i can understand..

[SpurPadre]

Another guard? I find it highly doubtful.

Consider that we'd sign Neal and acquire Ellis. That's 9 guards. But of course players would have to go to Milwaukee, and we'd probably send at least two (my guess would be Mills and DeColo). We still then have 7 guards...all of them deserving of minutes.

Parker
Joseph
Ginobili
Green
Belinelli
Ellis
Neal

Seriously, who are you going to bench there? And you can steal a few minutes at the 3, but Leonard is going to soak up the lions share of those minutes anyways.

I guess you could send out Joseph also in that trade. But does Milwaukee want to acquire their whole guard rotation as a transplant from San Antonio? And does San Antonio have enough PG's at that juncture? Besides, Bonner probably has to move in that trade to make the salaries come close, and that's 3-4 players leaving San Antonio to Milwaukee's one. Do they want all that garbage from us?

I was thinking we'd re-sign Neal only to switch back and trade him along with others for Ellis, if the Bucks re-sign him. I guess it would be too convoluted.

[TheCerebral1]

PG Parker/Ellis/Cojo
SG Green/Manu/Beli
SF Kawhi/Beli/Manu
PF Duncan/Boris/Moute (or, Udoh)
C Splitter/Duncan/Baynes

Make this happen, RC.

Completely unlikely unless you move half of that depth.

[spurraider21]

Either this is a prelude to a trade, or I'm very confused as to our strategy here