Greg Popovitch

[Frenchfred]

The Spurs have never attracted a top player. Sorry but San Antonio is not an interesting city especially if you are a youngster.

[ZeusWillJudge]

For almost 20 years, the Spurs had the Big 3. Those teams had the highest overall winning percentage of any team in any major sport over that period of time. FA's knew that there was already a Big 3, and they weren't part of it. So, yeah, some of them probably opted to go somewhere they could be an alpha dog. That was Pop's decision, but not his "fault". If it's not broke, don't fix it.

Some of it is money. Once again, if you have a Big 3 like Tim, Tony, and Manu you know you have to pay them to keep them. And you have a salary cap. So do you make a big FA signing and chance not being able to keep a team together in the future? Not if you're smart. Also, the money a player can make off of endorsements in SA just can't compare to what they can make in a big market - ESPECIALLY a big name player like the ones the OP is talking about. Jason Kidd claimed that the deciding factor was that there wasn't a big market TV station for his wife to work for.

Are there some who don't want to come to a town without world-class ty bars? Sure. If that's how they would make their decision, there's a good chance that they didn't get asked by PATFO. Don't forget that SpursTalk thinks the Spurs should sign EVERY big name FA that comes available, but we mostly don't know which ones the Spurs seriously pursue.

Most mid-tier FA's know that Pop doesn't hand out a lot of minutes in the first year, and maybe some of them have avoided signing here because of it. We don't know for sure, but maybe. And there may be some lazy-assed players who don't want to be held accountable, like they know Pop will. Other than that, it's not Pop's "fault" if a FA doesn't sign here.

But I just love the people who don't live in SA lecturing about life is (or isn't) in SA.

[cd98]

This is a myth. If he’s such a players coach, then why do no big name free agents want to come play for the “goat” and most beloved players coach. There have been multiple star free agents that say they would love to play for the Spurs, but when the times comes to put up or shut up, they don’t come. They love Pop from afar, but don’t want to play in his system. LaMarcus came, and he immediately wanted out.

He’s not a players coach. He’s a coache’s pet coach. Bonner was on the team for 10 years. Explain that.

Welp. First, we did get LMA. You may scoff at that, but he was the biggest name on the market and an all star when he came to S.A. But mostly it's because we haven't had money. Someone could always pay more. Players like Pop, they just like guaranteed money more, especially when the guaranteed money is a lot more than what the Spurs can offer.

That said, there are not a lot of superstars changing teams in free agency. When that rarity happens, it's always to a California team.

[cjw]

Welp. First, we did get LMA. You may scoff at that, but he was the biggest name on the market and an all star when he came to S.A. But mostly it's because we haven't had money. Someone could always pay more. Players like Pop, they just like guaranteed money more, especially when the guaranteed money is a lot more than what the Spurs can offer.

That said, there are not a lot of superstars changing teams in free agency. When that rarity happens, it's always to a California team.

This.

1.) Go look at how many free agents have actually changed teams. It’s usually done via trade, and the Spurs have often lacked trade assets because they literally have not picked inside of pick 20 since Duncan. Well until this year with pick 19.

2.) Other than the year they signed Aldridge, they have always lacked space for a max free agent.

[jjktkk]

And the main reason LMA wanted to leave.

Weak minded.

[DMC]

1. Drafted. Explored Orlando and came within one "Your family cannot ride on the plane" from going to Orlando.
2. Drafted. After Timmy Dunks came on board of course he was staying.
3. Drafted. Told Pop to shove his system up his ass. Pop did (to Pops credit), gave Manu freedom and of course he stayed with the Big 3 and great pick ups like Robert Horry, Bowen.

FOH.
You have named Zero big FAs who came here.
Other then Softridge. Who wanted out and we see the results of his staying.

You said came to San Antonio. They all chose to come here, even if they were drafted. Then they chose to stay with multiple opportunities to leave.

"of course he was staying".. not necessarily

Despite the lack of big names, they have the same number of rings as any other team in the past 25 years. Lakers had lots of big names. They got 5 rings. Spurs had just draft picks. They got 5 rings. There are teams all over the NBA with big names. They have no rings. Only one team will win a ring this year, probably the Warriors. Big names in Houston, Boston and elsewhere will just be names without rings.

[superbigtime]

really nailed the spelling tbh

[UnWantedTheory]

For almost 20 years, the Spurs had the Big 3. Those teams had the highest overall winning percentage of any team in any major sport over that period of time. FA's knew that there was already a Big 3, and they weren't part of it. So, yeah, some of them probably opted to go somewhere they could be an alpha dog. That was Pop's decision, but not his "fault". If it's not broke, don't fix it.

Some of it is money. Once again, if you have a Big 3 like Tim, Tony, and Manu you know you have to pay them to keep them. And you have a salary cap. So do you make a big FA signing and chance not being able to keep a team together in the future? Not if you're smart. Also, the money a player can make off of endorsements in SA just can't compare to what they can make in a big market - ESPECIALLY a big name player like the ones the OP is talking about. Jason Kidd claimed that the deciding factor was that there wasn't a big market TV station for his wife to work for.

Are there some who don't want to come to a town without world-class ty bars? Sure. If that's how they would make their decision, there's a good chance that they didn't get asked by PATFO. Don't forget that SpursTalk thinks the Spurs should sign EVERY big name FA that comes available, but we mostly don't know which ones the Spurs seriously pursue.

Most mid-tier FA's know that Pop doesn't hand out a lot of minutes in the first year, and maybe some of them have avoided signing here because of it. We don't know for sure, but maybe. And there may be some lazy-assed players who don't want to be held accountable, like they know Pop will. Other than that, it's not Pop's "fault" if a FA doesn't sign here.

But I just love the people who don't live in SA lecturing about life is (or isn't) in SA.

Well said.