MANU ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

[G R E Y]

Yesterday I was a bit miffed at his two year contract not being honoured. His agent said Manu was weary of the travel but I thought well if you sign a two year deal, you think of that ahead of time. Outside of injuries, it's supposed to mean something when you commit to that. And that talk with Pop sounded more like Manu announcing his intentions rather than their discussing where his place on the team could be. It was widely reported that Manu would return if his family was ok with it and if the Spurs needed him, and the latter was a clear yes. But if a player doesn't have that desire anymore, and if he had to be talked into staying, well then it's not ideal for both sides.

Is it your money? Why do you care? He has a right to retire when he feels he can't go anymore. I think after all the years of loyal service, playing through pain, accepting a bench role etc. would be enough for most Spurs fans. Obviously not.

The premise that wages not being a fan's money therefore one can't have an opinion about how the team uses available finances is specious. This whole board is for exchange of ideas about teams they follow. It's not about what's enough or not for fans; that's not the point (although I addressed that part later as well). He knew last season would likely be his last and kept it to himself. Doing so means Spurs have $2.5M in dead cap now. We could have used it differently had it been a one year deal. Waiting until late August also affected how PATFO proceeded in filling out the roster.

[Donald Kaufman]

OK, I get that - I guess I don't get too bent out of shape over things I can't control. I don't think 2.5M was going to be the difference between us being a title contender or a lottery team. And I think that Manu earned the right to take his time with his decision to retire, which is a huge life changing decision.

[G R E Y]

I think we're speaking in different terms and I don't want to conflate them. Sure it's a life changing decision, but he knew all season it would be his last. Of course he has the right to decide for himself and family what is best and I support that. But neither that nor the fact that we're not slated as contenders has any bearing on the team being able to use the money this year and being able to continue to do so responsibly. You could argue this is something they ought to have anticipated, but from reading local reporters, PATFO offered the two year deal with more than just tokenism for the last year in mind, but with a fair expectation that the contract would be reciprocated, and if not, then having more time to fill the roster. It's not just about money but availability of players and at what cost. Would it make or break the team? No, but perhaps expedite or hinder an ongoing process.

[imagump1313]

This team was completely different when he signed that contract. I think he fully intended to play 2 years at that time, but with everything that has happened in the last 12 months I can only think that both sides talked and he was given the option to retire if he wanted. This team isn't what he signed up for when the contract was signed and not what the Spurs thought it would be when they signed him.

I mean he has the right to retire whenever he wants. What I'm saying is he lives in SA. I'm sure after all the moves the team and Manu got together to re-asses the situation and maybe after some thought he didn't want to come back.

I understand what Grey is saying because that money could have been used for something. Damn, its about half way to signing Demarcus Cousins for God's sake.
But I'm sure there had to be some discussion about the money situation on both sides if he did retire so each must have been ok with it.

[Donald Kaufman]

Cousins wasn't signing with us for the $5.3M he's getting in GS. He did that for a very specific reason, to win a title and drive up his value for his next contract.

[G R E Y]

This team was completely different when he signed that contract. I think he fully intended to play 2 years at that time, but with everything that has happened in the last 12 months I can only think that both sides talked and he was given the option to retire if he wanted. This team isn't what he signed up for when the contract was signed and not what the Spurs thought it would be when they signed him.

I mean he has the right to retire whenever he wants. What I'm saying is he lives in SA. I'm sure after all the moves the team and Manu got together to re-asses the situation and maybe after some thought he didn't want to come back.

I understand what Grey is saying because that money could have been used for something. Damn, its about half way to signing Demarcus Cousins for God's sake.
But I'm sure there had to be some discussion about the money situation on both sides if he did retire so each must have been ok with it.

Maybe when he signed the contract he thought two years was a possibility, but in the article he wrote (linked in an earlier post), during the past season, he really felt and played knowing it would be his last but kept it to himself in case he happened to change his mind. So regardless of the season's strange circumstances, this would have been the likeliest outcome. I really thought that being free of all the drama this season and having a cohesive team would actually be more attractive to keep going, but neither seems to have been so much of a factor.

I agree that PATFO would have anticipated this as one of the possible outcomes, though it doesn't seem as if they predicted this as the most likely one. Local writers with inside info and insight wrote that PATFO really wanted Manu back. At the trade presser, Pop hinted that he hoped a decision would be forthcoming, so even if they kept in touch, the team still didn't know what Manu now apparently was clearer about than anyone knew. I'm not implying anything untoward, it's just disappointing in and of itself, and because it seems as if PATFO felt he was leaning the other way and maybe were left a little taken aback.

Not to make too fine a point of it, but when Timmy announced he was not continuing, Pop was in near tears at a presser; when Tony chose CH in FA, Pop released a heartfelt statement about what Tony has meant to the team. Maybe because Manu still comes to the practice facility or they just want to let some time pass before saying anything, but the silence from PATFO post-Manu's announcement is a bit curious compared to their reactions to the leaving of the other two which were, from accounts I've read, more anticipated. I'm not implying a rift, just taking a moment to adjust to an outcome it seems they thought/hoped(?) was less likely. I'm sure come jersey ceremony time, there will be copious compliments and expressions of gratitude. Manu's place in the team pantheon was long established before he made his decision, and full credit to him for earning all of it. Anyway, this is where we are this is the point from which we go forward.