He was doing it after Manu was an established star and paid as such. Again, if you want to tell me the coach didn't have the cachè to make the move I'll accept that but those variables mean very little to me. You play the better player! Especially in the finals!
Manu was an older 2nd round pick that Pop and RC discovered and plucked out of euro league ball. Not a max contract guy that’s started his entire career and specifically chose the Spurs when he was forcing his way out of his old team. Different dynamics