<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Last year of contract or not, Which NBA stars are more than likely to retire after this season?Gary Payton, Alonzo mourning, Robert Horry, Michael Finley (keeping my fingers crossed).Who else?</span>
I haven't heard anything about Michael or Horry. I don't think they're retiring, because the Spurs would have made many more moves if so. I do think that Van Exel is retiring, as I remember.
I doubt Michael Finley is retiring. And Zo said that he is probably coming back. I doubt any of those are going to retire actually.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Michael Finley (keeping my fingers crossed).</div> Why are you crossing your fingers on Finley retiring? I think he showed what he can do at this stage of his career for the Spurs during the playoffs. And that's still be a good scorer off the bench, providing good three point shooting. Don't get that one. Zo I feel should have retired this summer, he did what he wanted to with his comeback. It's time to just rest and keep himself healthy. Same goes for Payton. I don't know about Horry yet, he's not that old and can contribute.
Pretty sure Deke will be gone after this year. Mornig shouldnt retire. He has proven he can still contribute in this league.Horry didnt get a chance to play in the finals where he plays the best. So he might still hav something left.And Finley shouldnt. He is the best out of all these guys right now.
Deke and Cliff im thinking mite retire how old is cliff like 50? and hes still a good role player. after this yearShaq said 3 or 4 more yearsFinley is not retiring yeat Zo mite be like MJ take a break and comeback
I think Zo will leave if the Heat don't repeat this year. I think he is a just too old to continue playing at the level we need him to be playing at to make a big enough impact on the defensive end.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Deke and Cliff im thinking mite ret</div>Mutombo is retired next year, he already said that.Actually, Shaq should really retire this year. He might squeeze in maybe a few more good years, but the best thing would be to just retire.
Dikembe Mutombo's last season will be next year. I'm sure Cliff Robinson is done too.Voshon Lenard? How about Stacey Augmon
Mt. Mutombo - Announced he would play 2 more years before the start of last season. That mean's after this year he'll retire. Mourning- Mourning will probably retire after this year. The Heat guys had to strongly convince him to come back juts for this year.Cliff Robinson- This guy can't even get up and down the court anymore. I watched it live when the Nets came to Philly. Some reason I see Payton continuing to play a while. He's in great shape for a 37(?) year old
Hang Eleven, that is stupid.Shaq's team just won the NBA championship, and he is still averaging 20 and 10. He should definately not retire if he is still averaging those numbers. He will know when it's time, but it definately isnt time yet.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Shaq's team just won the NBA championship, and he is still averaging 20 and 10. He should definately not retire if he is still averaging those numbers. He will know when it's time, but it definately isnt time yet.</div>Depends what you call "time". To me, when a great player like Shaq is past his prime, and is no better than a role player, then it's "time". He was a role player all through the playoffs, and he definitely won't be averaging 20/10 again. More like 18/8, at best. Not to mention that in about two or three years, if he's still around, he'll be no better than Erick Dampier -- fat and lazy, and with an even fatter contract. He'll be paid $20 million when he's 38.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hang Eleven @ Aug 14 2006, 10:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Depends what you call "time". To me, when a great player like Shaq is past his prime, and is no better than a role player, then it's "time". He was a role player all through the playoffs, and he definitely won't be averaging 20/10 again. More like 18/8, at best. Not to mention that in about two or three years, if he's still around, he'll be no better than Erick Dampier -- fat and lazy, and with an even fatter contract. He'll be paid $20 million when he's 38.</div>Wow, I cant believe you think possibly the best Center in basketball is no better than a role player. He is past his prime, but still playing great, and without him the Heat would never have won the championship. I dont care what you think. Youre obviously a Shaq hater, but it is definately not time for Shaq to hang it up.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, I cant believe you think possibly the best Center in basketball is no better than a role player.</div>So, what is he? Is he still a superstar that can take over games like Wade did in the Finals? Did he take over games in the Finals? Or did he do what I think he did, get swarmed by the Mavs, and averaged 14/10. Those numbers look like role players to me.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He is past his prime, but still playing great, and without him the Heat would never have won the championship.</div>I know he is still crucial to the Heat, that without him they wouldn't have won. But can you deny he is going downhill...at 50 mph? And that he will be grossly overpaid in a few years time?
No sh*t, Shaq is going downhill. He is not the dominant force he was a few years ago. If he can give the Heat 18 and 8 with all the intangibles he creates he is stiill a top 10 player. Shaq still changes defenses more than almost any other player. The Mavs were focusing more on Shaq in the Finals than Wade. Imagine if Shaq wasn't there for Avery to worry about. Mourning/Doleac arn't going to catch those lobs Wade chucks up there. Shaq is still the best Center in the league. When your the best at your position there is really no need to retire.
Ya, no joke. Thanks for repeating it to me. Adds some extra emphasis, thanks for the help there. So, you seriously think that next year he'll be better than (this is just off the top of my head): Kobe, Wade, Iverson, Lebron James, Yao, McGrady, Brand, Garnett, Nowitzki, and Arenas? And that's just off the top of my head, I could name more if I wanted to. Do you really think that he'll be better than any one of those guys? Keep in mind, I said 18/8 at best. Very likely, he could average less, with his decline from Olympus, and Wade's ascension into that same rarefied air. Then they wouldn't have won. Yes, I know, I agree. What I'm saying is, now he's no better than a role player, a role player that's being paid $20 million a year. And he's not going to get any better by the time his contract runs out in four year. He should relieve the Heat of that burden. And I still didn't say now. I said next year. One more good year. Any more, and he'll ruin his averages, which is what he cares about. Who averaged 22/10 this year? Was it Shaq? Or was it a guy named Yao? Who dominated game, came up with 35/10/5 games? Who did? Shaq? Or Yao? Who led their team? Shaq? Or Yao?
shaq's helping stop his aging by getting in shape. He's staying decent since he's slimming down. Had he done that from the start, then CHEEEEEEEEEEERIST LOOK OUT BELOW!!!!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hang Eleven @ Aug 14 2006, 10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ya, no joke. Thanks for repeating it to me. Adds some extra emphasis, thanks for the help there.So, you seriously think that next year he'll be better than (this is just off the top of my head): Kobe, Wade, Iverson, Lebron James, Yao, McGrady, Brand, Garnett, Nowitzki, and Arenas? And that's just off the top of my head, I could name more if I wanted to. Do you really think that he'll be better than any one of those guys? Keep in mind, I said 18/8 at best. Very likely, he could average less, with his decline from Olympus, and Wade's ascension into that same rarefied air.Then they wouldn't have won. Yes, I know, I agree. What I'm saying is, now he's no better than a role player, a role player that's being paid $20 million a year. And he's not going to get any better by the time his contract runs out in four year. He should relieve the Heat of that burden. And I still didn't say now. I said next year. One more good year. Any more, and he'll ruin his averages, which is what he cares about.Who averaged 22/10 this year? Was it Shaq? Or was it a guy named Yao? Who dominated game, came up with 35/10/5 games? Who did? Shaq? Or Yao? Who led their team? Shaq? Or Yao?</div>Shaq is still the most dominant player in the game. His mere presence on the floor makes it incredibly easier for every other Heat player to get open or drive. He makes Dwyane Wade the best slasher in the league, and if he was getting defended the way a guy like Yao is, he'd EASILY be averaging 25+ PPG.BTW, everybody seems to think Yao just got so much more dominant at the end of the year. Did anyone stop and realize that it just so happened that Yao's averages went way up when Tracy McGrady went out, but the Rockets were losing?
