Blair and Neal end game

[TD 21]

I guess we have different opinions on Millsap's game, that's why I was asking. I see him as tougher Malik Rose. Kinda like a developed Blair.

Millsap probably can't be had for less than $10 million anyways, and while I know our big situation is kinda dire, I rather get size, tbh.

I don't disagree with the general sentiment. I have the same concerns as others when it comes to Millsap, which is why this was about what I think they'll do, not necessarily what I'd do. I'd be on board if, as I said, he could be had for less than he should be worth. Meaning some combination of Jackson, Bonner, Blair, Neal, Joseph, draft picks and overseas rights. Because even though he wouldn't solve their issues, he'd still be an upgrade in talent. And I'm not sure how it's even debatable that he's not star caliber or a clear cut second big.

I agree that it would probably take $10M annually to re-sign him, but as I said, he's probably the best realistic option they'll have in free agency anyway, so that part of it wouldn't concern me.

[TD 21]

I suspect Millsap will be their primary target.

There's been two developments in the past ten days that have swayed me into thinking that Smith will be their primary target.

1) Blair appears to be on the verge of taking at least a relatively significant step forward and if he does, then it makes no sense to surrender depth of assets for Millsap or pay him roughly $10M annually when they could retain their depth and pay Blair $6-7M less.

2) Splitter's paper cuts are beginning to mount. At this point, they've got to be thinking long and hard about whether this is someone they want to pay at least $6M annually to on a long term contract going forward.

I'm not saying the Spurs can offer the best value for Smith, but the pieces do fit: Smith, Pachulia and Stevenson for Jackson, Splitter, Bonner, Blair, Joseph, draft picks and possibly overseas rights.

The fact that they'd have to make him their highest paid player to retain him, despite the fact that he'd be their 3rd-5th offensive option, is irrelevant. They'll have the money to spend, he's the exact type of big they need and there's no chance they'll be able to do better.

[TimmehC]

I think Danny Ferry would rather repair his legacy than do us a solid, but what do I know.

[Andthentherewas21]

There's been two developments in the past ten days that have swayed me into thinking that Smith will be their primary target.

1) Blair appears to be on the verge of taking at least a relatively significant step forward and if he does, then it makes no sense to surrender depth of assets for Millsap or pay him roughly $10M annually when they could retain their depth and pay Blair $6-7M less.

2) Splitter's paper cuts are beginning to mount. At this point, they've got to be thinking long and hard about whether this is someone they want to pay at least $6M annually to on a long term contract going forward.

I'm not saying the Spurs can offer the best value for Smith, but the pieces do fit: Smith, Pachulia and Stevenson for Jackson, Splitter, Bonner, Blair, Joseph, draft picks and possibly overseas rights.

I think its a possibility if Smith comes right out and says he won't resign in Atlanta. If that happens then acquiring Splitter allows them to move Horford to PF, Jackson gives them an actual SF, and the others are basically insurance with Blair being the X-factor. However, it would definitely take some future picks and that is where the Spurs and Hawks would probably end up furthest apart.

[TD 21]

I think its a possibility if Smith comes right out and says he won't resign in Atlanta. If that happens then acquiring Splitter allows them to move Horford to PF, Jackson gives them an actual SF, and the others are basically insurance with Blair being the X-factor. However, it would definitely take some future picks and that is where the Spurs and Hawks would probably end up furthest apart.

Ferry might not want to take the risk that he doesn't re-sign or he just might want to turn him into three or four cheaper assets, as opposed to locking up roughly $14M annually, when they've already got an All-Star caliber player to play his position.

The Nuggets could trump this by offering Chandler, Mozgov, Randolph, etc., but because of his familiarity with the Spurs players, he might feel more comfortable taking their package or he might just flat out do them a solid and/or take a lesser package. It's not like those things don't happen.

If the Spurs could pull this off, they'd have a more balanced, physical team, with a clearly defined top eight . . .

Smith/Diaw/Powell
Leonard/Stevenson
Duncan/Pachulia
Green/Ginobili/De Colo
Parker/Neal/Mills

They could always sign an SF and/or C off the scrap heap (there's always post deadline buyouts) to fill out the roster.

[FkLA]

I'm not sure Neal is better than a guy like D. Cook who is third string on the Thunder. Yeah he can shoot but his defense is atrocious.

Gary Neal has shown the ability to get his own shot as well, hes not just a shooter.

[spurraider21]

There is absolutely no point in trading the two. With their contracts, we aren't going to get anything good in return. Neal is a clutch knockdown shooter and Blair is an assert to keep Tim fresh and would be effective against any west team except Memphis or the lakers. Losing them to free agency isn't exactly a fear considering their already limited roles. We're not likely to get a high draft pick for expiring contracts as small as theirs

[ChuckD]

There is absolutely no point in trading the two. With their contracts, we aren't going to get anything good in return. Neal is a clutch knockdown shooter and Blair is an assert to keep Tim fresh and would be effective against any west team except Memphis or the lakers. Losing them to free agency isn't exactly a fear considering their already limited roles. We're not likely to get a high draft pick for expiring contracts as small as theirs

The point is that neither really panned out. Both show decent offense, with holes, and little to no defense. If you trade them, you can keep ALL of Curry, Powell, and Brown, and start the next developmental player cycle.

[Ice009]

I wouldn't trade Jackson for Millsap at all, at any point, any day of the week. He's just a little too short for my liking and too expensive for the Spurs as he isn't really a great big man. I'd probably prefer someone like Dalembert who could help us more on the defensive end of the court.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Neal hasn't panned out? WTF did you expect from a 28 year old undrafted rookie? Being an all star or something?
And Balir is a 2nd round pick who is an NBA caliber player. That's better than most.

All 3 of Curry, Powell and Brown have a lot more to prove to be taken before either of Blair or Neal. Which they won't be. Maybe Curry on a Theo Ratliff 2.0 kinda deal.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

Well, Mcgrady decided he wants to continue his basketball career in China, so we dodged that bullet.

[TDMVPDPOY]

gary neal and blair the 2 clowns, whatever offense they put up is the same they give up on the other end....

[ChuckD]

Neal hasn't panned out? WTF did you expect from a 28 year old undrafted rookie? Being an all star or something?
And Balir is a 2nd round pick who is an NBA caliber player. That's better than most.

All 3 of Curry, Powell and Brown have a lot more to prove to be taken before either of Blair or Neal. Which they won't be. Maybe Curry on a Theo Ratliff 2.0 kinda deal.

Neal literally cannot dribble the ball, or even cover the Derek Fishers of the league. If Pop is serious about ramping up the defense, Neal will be somewhere else.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Neal literally cannot dribble the ball, or even cover the Derek Fishers of the league. If Pop is serious about ramping up the defense, Neal will be somewhere else.

Totally disagree about the dribbling and yea Neal is a bad defender, but if he could play defense on top of shooting 40+ on 3s he wouldn't have costed under a mil per year. Look at how much other 3 point specialists make - Korver, Morrow, etc. Based on production per dollar, Neal has delivered and surpassed any expectations from 2 years ago when he signed.

[therealtruth]

Derek Fisher is still available. He might be worth taking a look at. Neal can't even defend him and he's one of the slowest point guards.

[Drom John]

Stop the fantasy trades for Smith.
Both Smith and the Hawks have announced that they won't extend Smith's contract this year because they can only extend for three years. But as a free-agent Smith can sign for five years.
Smith is more a Hawk than Duncan is a Spur.

The Spurs have a better chance gettting Dwight Howard than Smith.

The Spurs aren't getting Dwight Howard.

Neal to Orlando?
Blair to Charlotte?
Maybe. But I don't see much more than roster space and a high second round draft pick a piece.

I'd rather keep Blair and Neal.

[ChuckD]

Totally disagree about the dribbling and yea Neal is a bad defender, but if he could play defense on top of shooting 40+ on 3s he wouldn't have costed under a mil per year. Look at how much other 3 point specialists make - Korver, Morrow, etc. Based on production per dollar, Neal has delivered and surpassed any expectations from 2 years ago when he signed.

He literally stares at his hand and the ball while dribbling, and cannot bring the ball up under pressure. He starts backing his man down at the 3/4 court mark, and by the time he gets barely gets it across the timeline at the 17 or 18 second mark and is ready to run a play, there are like 10 seconds left. I've seen him run a high pick and roll, and LOSE THE BALL WITH NO DEFENDER ON HIM, and have to run back and get it. He sucks as a primary ball handler and initiator, the role expected of the backup PG. He's undersized at the 2 guard, his best position. He defends no one.

[therealtruth]

He literally stares at his hand and the ball while dribbling, and cannot bring the ball up under pressure. He starts backing his man down at the 3/4 court mark, and by the time he gets barely gets it across the timeline at the 17 or 18 second mark and is ready to run a play, there are like 10 seconds left. I've seen him run a high pick and roll, and LOSE THE BALL WITH NO DEFENDER ON HIM, and have to run back and get it. He sucks as a primary ball handler and initiator, the role expected of the backup PG. He's undersized at the 2 guard, his best position. He defends no one.

You can improve alot of those skills just by doing lots of drills. Another part of it is confidence. It's hard to dribble the ball when you don't have confidence in your ballhandling. Defenders can also pickup on the fact that your not confident. They'll attack your dribble more aggressively. When's the last time you saw someone pick up Chris Paul full court to try and get a steal? But they do that Neal all the time.

[superbigtime]

He literally stares at his hand and the ball while dribbling, and cannot bring the ball up under pressure. He starts backing his man down at the 3/4 court mark, and by the time he gets barely gets it across the timeline at the 17 or 18 second mark and is ready to run a play, there are like 10 seconds left. I've seen him run a high pick and roll, and LOSE THE BALL WITH NO DEFENDER ON HIM, and have to run back and get it. He sucks as a primary ball handler and initiator, the role expected of the backup PG. He's undersized at the 2 guard, his best position. He defends no one.

You know why he struggles like that? Because he's not a PG. Maybe the coach will figure that out one day. G neal is $$$ at what he's good at, and he sucks at what he's bad at. He's shouldn't be a primary ball handler because, you're right, he can be clumsy with the ball. We've seen it over and over. When he spots up and shoots, he's deadly. And he's not terrible at getting to the bucket. But he's a liability in ball handling and defense. Even Neal knows it. He mopes at his mistakes and then it gets him in an even worse offensive rhythm. Can't our coaches figure this out and play Gary to his and the team's advantage? It's frickin frustrating.

[ChuckD]

You know why he struggles like that? Because he's not a PG. Maybe the coach will figure that out one day. G neal is $$$ at what he's good at, and he sucks at what he's bad at. He's shouldn't be a primary ball handler because, you're right, he can be clumsy with the ball. We've seen it over and over. When he spots up and shoots, he's deadly. And he's not terrible at getting to the bucket. But he's a liability in ball handling and defense. Even Neal knows it. He mopes at his mistakes and then it gets him in an even worse offensive rhythm. Can't our coaches figure this out and play Gary to his and the team's advantage? It's frickin frustrating.

Unfortunately for Gary, with Kawhi, Manu, jack, and green, there just aren't wing minutes available. It's PG or nothing. That's why I think it's best that they move him. There are just too many guards and wings on this team. We haven't even discussed th glut at pg with Tony, Mills, CoJo, and now DeColo.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Unfortunately for Gary, with Kawhi, Manu, jack, and green, there just aren't wing minutes available. It's PG or nothing. That's why I think it's best that they move him. There are just too many guards and wings on this team. We haven't even discussed th glut at pg with Tony, Mills, CoJo, and now DeColo.

he probably play when pop decides to go small, pushin KL and JAX to play the 4, then neal could expect some time at the 321
unless he decides to accept the brent barry role, come in hit a few 3s when his needed, like in his first season

[Leetonidas]

I think we should keep Neal. I just came back in 2K13 by giving Neal the ball and chucking 3s as soon as I could get open and he was hitting nothing but the bottom

[ace3g]

I think we should keep Neal. I just came back in 2K13 by giving Neal the ball and chucking 3s as soon as I could get open and he was hitting nothing but the bottom

speaking of video game stats

[superbigtime]

I just really like the dude. I'd be really bummed to see G Neal go. He can win this team games if he's played the right way. This team's got too many wings and not enough bigs. SOS.