The Spurs are in the process of withdrawing their qualifying offer to Gary Neal, making him an unrestricted free agent, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The move increases the likelihood that Neal will end up landing with a team besides San Antonio, with Stein adding (via Twitter) that the free agent guard is expected to be "snapped up quickly."
Neal's one-year qualifying offer was worth about $1.12MM, and allowed the Spurs to match any bids for him. Had Neal signed an offer sheet with another club, the Spurs would have had three days to decide whether to match it or let him walk. Now, the 28-year-old will be able to sign outright with a rival suitor.
Neal has posted nearly identical numbers in his three seasons in San Antonio, with his averages ranging from 9.5 to 9.9 PPG in 21.1 to 21.8 MPG. However, after posting a 41.9% three-point rate in each of his first two years, that mark fell to 35.5% in 2012/13.
It's not clear where Neal will land once he becomes an unrestricted free agent, but Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times reported a couple weeks ago that the Bucks were one of four interested teams.