What will we do when Shaq retires? I think Simien or Haslem could play at C. There's not really anyone that coudl really fill the spot though. We could also draft a C. What do you guys think?
Well, we'd have $20mil of capspace to work with. Around what year does Dwight Howard become a free agent
With the presence of Shaquille on the Heat they have established a team that can be successful even after he departure. Like said before when he retires (if it's at the end of his contract) their will be a large amount of cap space to work with to sign a good free agent center, but if it came down to it, I think either Simien would start at center or they would draft someone to start at center. I may be wrong, but Haslem is pretty under sized at power forward. How under sized would he be at center?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">With the presence of Shaquille on the Heat they have established a team that can be successful even after he departure. Like said before when he retires (if it's at the end of his contract) their will be a large amount of cap space to work with to sign a good free agent center, but if it came down to it, I think either Simien would start at center or they would draft someone to start at center. I may be wrong, but Haslem is pretty under sized at power forward. How under sized would he be at center?</div> How undersized would the 6-8 Simien be at center? He was already knocked on before the draft for being an undersized power forward, so what makes you think he'd suffice at center? When Shaq retires in five years Wade will be right at the peak of his career, but I doubt that all three of Walker, Posey and Williams will be around. They will all be near the mid-30's and should probably have been jettisoned to another team. As for the center position, there will be five years until you guys have to worry about it. The draft and free agency can all factor in to make sure that the Heat don't have to start Michael Doleac at center after Shaq retires.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">How undersized would the 6-8 Simien be at center? He was already knocked on before the draft for being an undersized power forward, so what makes you think he'd suffice at center?</div> He is actually 6?9? (on heat website), but the reason I said he would be an option and not Haslem was because he weighs 20 more pounds than Haslem. However, you are right neither are great options, and both are undersized at the end of the day. Like you stated their are many different things that will change from now until O'Neal retires including draft, free agents, and player progressions, so there is really no way to tell.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">He is actually 6?9? (on heat website), but the reason I said he would be an option and not Haslem was because he weighs 20 more pounds than Haslem. However, you are right neither are great options, and both are undersized at the end of the day. Like you stated their are many different things that will change from now until O'Neal retires including draft, free agents, and player progressions, so there is really no way to tell.</div> Simien is 6-8 without shoes and 6-9 with shoes. He can't be any taller than 6-9. He is an Elton Brand type player and that type definitely cannot do a thing at center. Don't even know why you would mention him in the first place, even though he is bulky.
Shaq has 5 years in this league? I laugh at that. He probably has 1 or 2 seasons left. Maybe his contract has that long but I seriously doubt it. You will still be a playoff team after Shaq leaves but not an elite team or a championship team. Wade will be amazing for sure but you still need more than one star and role players to get anywhere. You cant win on offense. If your team was like the Pistons and all players who were defense-oriented and played team ball with no stars then it could work. The Heat though are an offensive team.
I say not to worry about the future just yet. Enjoy what we have now. The Heat organization will worry about the future and us fans just enjoy what they bring to us.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OrlandoMagicFan:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq has 5 years in this league? I laugh at that. He probably has 1 or 2 seasons left. Maybe his contract has that long but I seriously doubt it. You will still be a playoff team after Shaq leaves but not an elite team or a championship team. Wade will be amazing for sure but you still need more than one star and role players to get anywhere. You cant win on offense. If your team was like the Pistons and all players who were defense-oriented and played team ball with no stars then it could work. The Heat though are an offensive team.</div> shaq's got more than 1 or 2 years left, its no coincidence that at age 33 he missed less games last season then he did the previous 2 years before. he's taking better care of his body now and if anyone can play into they're late thirties its shaq. A 7'1 340 pound body is still a 7'1 340 pound body no matter what age.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Esco416:</div><div class="quote_post">shaq's got more than 1 or 2 years left, its no coincidence that at age 33 he missed less games last season then he did the previous 2 years before. he's taking better care of his body now and if anyone can play into they're late thirties its shaq. A 7'1 340 pound body is still a 7'1 340 pound body no matter what age.</div> Who is to judge how many years Shaq has left? With all the weight he puts on each offseason it is hard to estimate the length of Shaq's career. It's not like he is playing for a ring or anything because he has tons of those. Shaq could retire after THIS season for all we know. Oh and BTW, a 7'1 340 pound body is much different depending on the age. Shaq is older now and is injury prone so he doesn't have the same skills as he used to. Just because he is big doesn't mean he is going to stay great at basketball forever. The older he gets the less of an impact he will have against opposing teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Who is to judge how many years Shaq has left? With all the weight he puts on each offseason it is hard to estimate the length of Shaq's career. It's not like he is playing for a ring or anything because he has tons of those. Shaq could retire after THIS season for all we know. Oh and BTW, a 7'1 340 pound body is much different depending on the age. Shaq is older now and is injury prone so he doesn't have the same skills as he used to. Just because he is big doesn't mean he is going to stay great at basketball forever. The older he gets the less of an impact he will have against opposing teams.</div>Shaq isn't playing for a ring? Everything he's said is championship-related and he took last season's playoff loss to Detroit hard. If that's not playing for a ring I don't know what is. And also, how does getting older affect your skills? As you get more experienced, you develop more post moves and become a smarter player. Shaq's jump hook is something he had developed only a few years ago and it's just not possible to lose your skills because you're getting older. If anything, Shaq gets better at every skill the more times he does it. It's common knowledge.
Im estimating around 2-4 years more for Shaq. He doesnt seem like a guy to play until he is so old that he is abused every other game (though he would have to be close to 40 by that time). 7'1 340 is tough to carry for so many years, being that big definitely doesnt help him elongate his career but if he stays in good shape instead of letting himslef go like he did in LA he should last around 3 more years.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, we'd have $20mil of capspace to work with. Around what year does Dwight Howard become a free agent </div> Your not going to get Dwight he is going to stay with the Magic.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The_Legend_23:</div><div class="quote_post">when shaq retires, I think Earl Barron will be ready to start (if he's still around)</div> I was just going to mention him. The organization is very high on him and I htink he'll be the starter. PG: Dwayne Wade SG: Dorrell Wright SF: rookie or FA signed with the cap space PF: Haslem or Simien C: Earl Barron
