BREAKING: Bonner will be waived

[SAGirl]

It's sad, but true. We really could have used either his or McCallum's young legs defensively on opposing guards. Hopefully, a long shot, they can continue to get him coached up defensively to be of some use. He's our only guard under 30 and taller than 6 feet. (Excepting Danny, sorry...)

Kmart will take his minutes and Manu will start rounding into form too. I am starting to think the 4th wing spot will remain situational in the plAyoffs, not only matchup but who is hot, who is playing well and whether you need defense.

[jermaine]

I love me some Bonner... He is an will always be my "Brotha from anotha motha"!!!

[Keepin' it real]

We need 3 point shooters. Bonner can do that.

Not in the playoffs he can't. Worst choker ever.

[tholdren]

An all-timer. Ranks 14th in NBA career 3-PT FG % all-time.

In crap minutes. Bonner is a wet fart in the playoffs. Spur for life? He's a coach favorite, a good character guy, but a waste of a roster spot.

[tholdren]

We need 3 point shooters. Bonner can do that. Bonner also spreads the floor, since a big usually guards him, he can draw them outside on Offense. Yeah, I've never liked his D that much. His "happy feet" really is a liability. But, a big that can shoot 3's. We need more 3's.

Not really 3's but more reliable scoring. Spurs need a player like Martin to shoot it, and a player like simmons to attack the rim.

[cjw]

A few thoughts:

1.) Maybe holding back news of release until Martin passes his physical. Don't want a Sixers/Joel Anthony/DMo situation

2.) If not 1, if they were letting go of Butler over Bonner no matter what, I imagine it would have already happened. Why let the situation linger.

3.) Butler has gotten lots of minutes over past few games. Perhaps seeing what he has in the tank / can bring to the table with various units.

4.) My guess is they asked Bonner to retire or that he'd be cut, and are waiting till after tonight's game. Give him one more home game - he may even start with Timmy, Parker, Kawhi (and I'd say Manu if he weren't coming back from his busted ball - he'll get ovation at the 6 minute mark of 1st Q)


And those complaining about having "old" bodies around instead of Ray, etc. to chase young perimeter guys, it also takes skills to navigate defensively on the floor and not get lost. I trust Miller, Butler, etc. a heck of a lot more despite having less athleticism than even Simmons.

[Dverde]

I imagine he will fill the void left by Marks. As they shuffle folks around to fill Mark's spot, there should be an opening at the bottom now.

[Solid D]

In crap minutes. Bonner is a wet fart in the playoffs. Spur for life? He's a coach favorite, a good character guy, but a waste of a roster spot.

I'm in favor of moving Matt to a staff/FO slot and keeping Butler. Butler offers more than Matt can offer on the court now, no question.

With that said, Matt has been a big contributor to the Spurs' success the past decade (started 8 playoff games when they really needed it). You're being ridiculous.

[BillMc]

I'm in favor of moving Matt to a staff/FO slot and keeping Butler. Butler offers more than Matt can offer on the court now, no question.

With that said, Matt has been a big contributor to the Spurs' success the past decade (started 8 playoff games when they really needed it). You're being ridiculous.

Exactly. Bonner changed that series by starting against OKC in 2014. It may have been a placebo effect, but OKC had to respect his shot and it pulled Ibaka away from the paint. When your 5th big can affect the WCF without making a shot, then he's worth a place on the bench. ST somehow thinks all players should be All-Stars.

I've already gone on record saying I think we should keep Butler over Bonner. But if this the end for Matty he's been a good teammate, an amusing interview, a complete pro and Spurs fans should wish him nothing but the best.

[tholdren]

I'm in favor of moving Matt to a staff/FO slot and keeping Butler. Butler offers more than Matt can offer on the court now, no question.

With that said, Matt has been a big contributor to the Spurs' success the past decade (started 8 playoff games when they really needed it). You're being ridiculous.

absolutely not being ridiculous. Started 8 games when "they really needed it?" what the ? He started 5 of those games in 2009 first round when dallas beat the out of SA 4-1. He was literally the worst player on the court at all times. In that series - remember one of those games the spurs scored 67 points in a game - Bonner shot 21% FG and 23% from 3.

He blows. To deny that, you're literally giving away any rep you had during your 22k posts. Jesus. Starting a playoff game doesn't mean he's worth anything. Further, not shipping his ass out of SA after that 5 game performance was a drop by the FO.

[will_spurs]

How could anybody hate on Bonner is beyond me.

The only issue I had with him was that Pop forced him to play ~20 mpg during the Dark Ages, and then again it's on Pop, it wasn't even Bonner's fault as he isn't the kind of guy to complain that he isn't starting or that he isn't getting enough minutes.

Bonner was a pioneer of the stretch 4 position, a great roleplayer, an amazing teammate, a guy who had "gotten over himself" even before he arrived, a really funny guy with a sense of self-derision (Red Mamba, Coach B, sandwich blog and so on), a fan favorite...

Sadly he's the 16th guy on a team with serious championships aspirations.

[BillMc]

How could anybody hate on Bonner is beyond me.

The only issue I had with him was that Pop forced him to play ~20 mpg during the Dark Ages, and then again it's on Pop, it wasn't even Bonner's fault as he isn't the kind of guy to complain that he isn't starting or that he isn't getting enough minutes.

Bonner was a pioneer of the stretch 4 position, a great roleplayer, an amazing teammate, a guy who had "gotten over himself" even before he arrived, a really funny guy with a sense of self-derision (Red Mamba, Coach B, sandwich blog and so on), a fan favorite...

Sadly he's the 16th guy on a team with serious championships aspirations.

This.

[lmbebo]

can we rename this le, very misleading. Just hope from the misguided OP

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Didn't Matt start game 6 at okc?

[ceperez]

Exactly. Bonner changed that series by starting against OKC in 2014. It may have been a placebo effect, but OKC had to respect his shot and it pulled Ibaka away from the paint. When your 5th big can affect the WCF without making a shot, then he's worth a place on the bench. ST somehow thinks all players should be All-Stars.

I've already gone on record saying I think we should keep Butler over Bonner. But if this the end for Matty he's been a good teammate, an amusing interview, a complete pro and Spurs fans should wish him nothing but the best.

I agree. He spaced the floor against OKC when Spurs needed it.

In the new small ball NBA you need mobile paint protectors. Butler is mobile and can space the floor.

[Arcadian]

How could anybody hate on Bonner is beyond me.

It's more of a displaced hate, really. The idea of him taking up a valuable roster spot is preposterous at this point. You're right, it's not his fault, but...he exists, and it's time for him to go.

[Maddog]

It's more of a displaced hate, really. The idea of him taking up a valuable roster spot is preposterous at this point. You're right, it's not his fault, but...he exists, and it's time for him to go.

A valuable roster spot indeed,
Does everyone realize we are debating about two guys that have played less 700 minutes combined in 61 games?