The truth about Steven Jackson.
He was a nobody until he came to the Spurs. He was a hothead, and as you know, hotheads don't figure into Pop's scheme. Nevertheless, Spurs assistant coach Mike Brown worked him a great deal, taught him to control his temper (no, I'm not talking about the Hulk), and he became an integral part of the Spurs championship run last season.
Keep in mind that Jackson shared the bulk of his minutes with an up and coming Manu Ginobli. Ginobli is heading into his free agent year this year, Pop needed to utilize him as much as possible, or fear Manu bolting to another team.
I think he set Steven Jackson up. After the season, Jack told Pop that he deserved his "payday" so Pop kept him on the backburners while he tried to sign JKidd. Only when the bulk of the Spurs players had been signed, did Pop offer Jack a $3 mill contract (in my opinion, all the while knowing he would reject it.) When he did reject it, Pop was able to let him go without much of a fuss. Manu has gladly filled his role.
Pop was tired of having a hothead on the sideline, it was time for him to go. Did the Spurs throw a burn? Yes, in the sense that they made him wait so long. By the time the Spurs let him go, he wasn't high on everybodies list. Not to mention the NBA is like a small catholic school. Everybody knows everything, and people talk. Word of Jack's not so level headedness spread. Most coaches didn't want to take a chance, and throw him big bucks.
Those are my thoughts. Manu is THAT GOOD, he will only get better, I think Pop made the right choice.