Spurs withdraw qualifying offer to Neal

[UZER]

Bud wanted Neal while Pop didn't, interesting.

Now Pop has opened up more minutes for Bonner. He'll play the two spot.

[freetiago]

Neal will love Milwaukee
they let the guards chuck as much as they want and ignore the bigs

[CGD]

Can't find Bruno's write up on point, but was Milwaukee one of the teams that had to go the S&T route or could they sign him outright with space/exception?

Tbh glad Neal is going to a team where he can't come back and bite the spurs in the ass like Houston, OkC, or Miami.

[Russ]

Marc Stein ‏‏@ESPNSteinLine 13m
MIL & ATL were top two pursuers after Spurs withdrew qualifying offer to make Neal unrestricted free agent. Deal w/Bucks now expected today

This is a significant loss. When people see Neal in Milwaukee (the same ones who want him gone), they'll be reflecting on how much they loved Neal and how dumb the Spurs were to let him go.

[bklynspursfan]

Was hoping he'd end up in Atlanta

[loveforthegame]

Have fun in Milwaukee Neal. Easy road back to the Finals with that team.

[Kindergarten Cop]

Can't find Bruno's write up on point, but was Milwaukee one of the teams that had to go the S&T route or could they sign him outright with space/exception?

Tbh glad Neal is going to a team where he can't come back and bite the spurs in the ass like Houston, OkC, or Miami.

Regarding a potential S&T with Spurs for either Neal or Blair, you had to look at what teams would have the money to sign them to the salaries they are looking for (around $3M). You can rank teams in 4 categories:
- Teams that can't do a S&T or sign them to more than a min contract: Brooklyn, Chicago, Lakers, New York.
- Team's that can't do a S&T but can sign them as FA: Miami.
- Teams that can only get them through a S&T: Charlotte, Denver, Warriors, Indiana, Clippers, Minnesota, Toronto, Wizards.
- Teams that can either do a S&T or sign them with exceptions: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland*, Dallas*, Detroit*, Houston*, Memphis, Milwauke, New Orleans*, OKC, Orlando*, Philadelphia, Phoenix*, Portland*, Sacramento*, Utah.

Teams with an * are teams that can offer Neal or Blair about $2.6M per year which might not necessarily be enough to get them.

To sum up, the situation with the 29 other teams regarding Blair/Neal, and assuming they will find a taker at their market value, is:
- 4 teams can't get them.
- 8 teams can get them without Spurs help.
- 8 teams can only get them through a S&T.
- 9 teams are in a between situation where they might finally need a S&T.

[spursnatic]

This is a significant loss. When people see Neal in Milwaukee (the same ones who want him gone), they'll be reflecting on how much they loved Neal and how dumb the Spurs were to let him go.

Stupid ing move on the SPURS part..You can never have enough shooting on a team..Why would you not let a DeColo or Baynes go instead?..They can't shoot, all they are good for is taking up Roster space..I am with you on this BIG Time.. Everyone who wants him gone over one stupid defensive miss, will miss him dearly next season

[TXstbobcat]

Good luck in Milwaukee. Wish Neal the best.

[racm]

Stupid ing move on the SPURS part..You can never have enough shooting on a team..Why would you not let a DeColo or Baynes go instead?..They can't shoot, all they are good for is taking up Roster space..I am with you on this BIG Time.. Everyone who wants him gone over one stupid defensive miss, will miss him dearly next season

Because you can teach De Colo to shoot? Because the Spurs already committed money to Belinelli (who due to wearing #3 will get a boost in fan popularity)?

[Bruno]

Bucks can offer a lot of money to Neal so I'm actually curious to see what kind of contract he will get and if he end up being more expensive than Belinelli. One of the issue with Neal could have been that Spurs weren't ready to offer him more than a two years contract to preserve their 2015 cap space.

[Russ]

Because you can teach De Colo to shoot? Because the Spurs already committed money to Belinelli (who due to wearing #3 will get a boost in fan popularity)?

It's not about Neal vs. DeColo or Neal vs. Belinelli.

It's about Neal vs. Mills to be brutally honest.

Mills is a great guy but the only reason he's back is called "player option." My guess is he'll be off the Spurs after next year and likely out of the NBA.

[Vic Petro]

This is a significant loss. When people see Neal in Milwaukee (the same ones who want him gone), they'll be reflecting on how much they loved Neal and how dumb the Spurs were to let him go.

No one will see him in Milwaukee except the people living in Milwaukee. I thank Neal for his contributions but by December we won't even remember he was on the team.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

What are the Bucks doing? It's like their goal is somewhere between the 10th and 8th seed.

[TXstbobcat]

No one will see him in Milwaukee except the people living in Milwaukee. I thank Neal for his contributions but by December we won't even remember he was on the team.

i work with a lot of guys from Milwaukee and they don't even care about the bucks.

[spursnatic]

Because you can teach De Colo to shoot? Because the Spurs already committed money to Belinelli (who due to wearing #3 will get a boost in fan popularity)?

DeColo should have been a shooter coming out of Europe, like all other Foreign Players..And at 1 Million a year that is a steal..DeColo is trash and I don't, like many other people..See him as a Manu type player in the Future...You can never have enough shooters..True we are heavy at the Guard position, but cut one of you dead weight Players before getting rid of someone who actually gives you something

[timtonymanu]

Milwaukee? Ouch.

Hopefully he earned himself a big paycheck by going there.

Best of luck, Gary.

[ace3g]

Kevin Arnovitz @kevinarnovitz
Sources close to the process report Gary Neal deal with MIL will be for 2 years/$6.5 million.

[TXstbobcat]

Nice payday for Neal. The spurs wouldn't have matched it.

[Vic Petro]

Kevin Arnovitz @kevinarnovitz
Sources close to the process report Gary Neal deal with MIL will be for 2 years/$6.5 million.

So he's $500K more expensive than Belinelli.

[Bruno]

Belinelli: $5.6M/2 years
Neal: $6.5M/2 years

They both basically cost the same and Neal wouldn't have hurt the 2015 cap space plan with that contract.

So,
- For Spurs, is Belinelli > Neal?
- If Spurs knew that Neal could have been had for that kind of money, would have they re-signed him instead of going after Belinelli?
- Have Spurs picked Neal instead of Belinelli, they would have had enough money left on the MLE to sign a player like Dorell Wright. How much does it hurt them not to have that kind of player?

[DesignatedT]

Rather have Belinelli than Neal IMO.

[Baam]

Yeah for some reason they made the decision that they didn't want him back.

Not sure why but they clearly wanted to get rid of him.

Neal was Sjax best friend so maybe he was one of the more vocal about Pop re ed thrust in Turnobili...

Can't be the defensive problem given that they hardly signed an upgrade on that end...

It's puzzling tbh, has to be about some behind the scene stuff...

[benefactor]

Rather have Belinelli than Neal IMO.

Yes. THAT Dude will on his haters. Lot's of thread bumps and post quoting will happen around mid-season.

[Baam]

Yes. THAT Dude will on his haters. Lot's of thread bumps and post quoting will happen around mid-season.

You can't bump anything mid season because there's nothing that'd make him even as good as Neal in the regular season , wait until he makes a good play in the POs for the premature ejaculation...