Manu gone — end of a Spurs era

With the retirement of Manu Ginobili, only Patty Mills, a reserve guard back then, and the returning vagabond Marco Belinelli, remain from the San Antonio Spurs last title team in 2013-14.

Danny Green was traded to Toronto along with Kawhi Leonard. Tony Parker refused to accept the same reality that Manu did and so went to Charlotte as a free agent. Tim Duncan retired a couple of years back. And, the others are even longer gone, role players moving to other roles with other teams for more money, or else retired. Even Boris Diaw and his slow motion dekes are officially gone from the league. (He has now made his retirement official, and Manu said goodbye back, complete with revealing a nickname.)

So, it is the end of an era, as shown by this classic picture of the Big Three.

Would Manu have hung one more year if Kawhi and his Uncle Dennis hadn't forced their way out of town? Possibly.

But now, with DeMar DeRozan for two years, and the touted Jakob Poeltl as well in that trade back from Toronto, Coach Popovich faces some type of quasi-rebuild, whatever he calls it.

Per an ESPN question, he's a HOFer on NBA career alone; more than 100 Win Shares primarily coming off the bench says that. With his international work, he is a slam dunk.

Let's remember him with some career highlights.

Of course, there's only one person suitable, besides Pops, to be the emcee for Manu's official retirement event.

Sir Charles, what's your calendar look like this fall?

Call it the Ginobili rule

Or the Anderson Varajao rule. Anyway, the NBA says it will fine floppers next year. Postgame tape will be analyzed to nail offenders.

It sounds like the fines could get progressive. Still no word on whether suspensions will be involved.

And, I can’t resist asking, rhetorically: Will the rule work, or will it …

Be a flop?

The NBA’s competition committee also recommended instant replay to determine 3-pointers and 3-pointer fouls, as well as get late-game clock time exactly right.