Saying goodbye to legendary players is difficult, but if the San Antonio Spurs want a shot at adding quality players this offseason, which means max-level free agents, Manu Ginobili can’t be a part of their plans, hoping he retires instead of re-sign.
In an excellent article about the offseason moves, salary cap considerations and potential targets, Mike Monroe (San Antonio Express) makes it quite clear how big this offseason is for the Spurs, who are still in that usual realm of having one last shot of winning the title (it’s been that last shot for almost a decade) with the Duncan-Ginobili-Parker group, with other complications in the form of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green needing new contracts rising.
To be painfully brutal? Unless Ginobili takes a minimum salary deal, it’s going to be difficult. Leonard, even with a max extension, is going to be only a $7.2 million cap hit next season. Together with Danny Green that means about $15 million. Tim Duncan might cost $6 million to hold on to. The Spurs currently have $34.2 million on their salary cap heading into next season, but they enter the $58-60 million easily with only the major re-signings.
If they trade Tiago Splitter, which is very likely considering their free agency targets are most likely Marc Gasol (very hard to believe he’ll leave the Grizzlies) and LaMarcus Aldridge, then moving Splitter and his $8.5 million cap hit makes a lot of sense, and opens up just about enough cap space to make that signing.
However, it’s probably better for Ginobili to be off that list as well. Sure, he can give the Spurs some brilliant moments off the bench, but it’s getting more and more difficult for him to deliver on a consistent basis. Older and with more and more injuries for his aging body to cope with, Ginobili asking for a salary of around $4-5 million a season is an obstacle to greatness, not a helpful partner.
3 responses to “NBA Rumors: San Antonio Spurs Plans Hinge on Manu Ginobili Retiring, Tim Duncan Re-Signing”
Why do you people still insist on the spurs keeping Danny Green? He has be a complete failure as a Spur. He would be a great player for some team at .500 and really doesn’t care if they make the playoffs but for a contented like the spurs year in and year out your player know they’re getting paid for the playoff performance, every year Green disappears in the playoffs like he’s a teenage boy who was just told his girlfriend is pregnant. During the finals loss there were times of he made his shots like he did on the regular season the spurs would be playing for ring #7 not #6. And in this year’s loss to the clippers same thing. Let him leave and bring in a player whose a winner.
No arguments on consistency issues, but name a 3 point shooter that doesn’t have off days. Danny Green is a solid defender and floor spacer, and any team would be made better by having him as a backup or even starting wing. He’s not worth the 8 figures the Spurs would likely have to spend to keep him, they need that money elsewhere, but if he were to give a discount, I’d take Danny Green for three years over one more season with Ginobli, as much as I love him, any day.
Also, let’s not pretend Green to blame for either playoff loss. By that logic, the Spurs should have gotten rid of Duncan for missing those free throws, or Parker for playing absolutely terrible against the Clippers. Everyone has their moments, both good and bad, but Green is a big part of the San Antonio system, and I’ll miss him when he’s gone (unless he goes to Dallas like people are saying).
I don’t think Ginobili should be the player to leave, Spurs need his unique talent, skill, experience and great plays and passes. Every player has off days so don’t blame age. He has played a large part on many championships for the Spurs. He hadn’t gotten the appreciation and respect from media, reporters he deserves. His total playing stats are fantastic so don’t be so quick to criticize him