(Thanks Lal-Mtl from the Wire for the Riverside Enterprise info) <font size="4"><font color="purple">Malone keeping everyone waiting</font></font> 12:25 AM PDT on Thursday, August 5, 2004 Karl Malone is back home on his ranch in El Dorado, Ark., feeling better about how his right knee is responding after off-season surgery, sounding upbeat now that he's able to work out with his brother, Terry. Eventually, Malone said Wednesday, he will come to a conclusion on his future, on whether he'll play again or retire after 19 years in the NBA. He knows the Lakers are waiting for him to make a decision, and he knows they are hoping he returns and plays at least one more season in Los Angeles. He knows the San Antonio Spurs are waiting, as are the Heat and center Shaquille O'Neal, who recruited Malone to the Lakers last year and now is trying to sway him to come to Miami. "I'm on the mend," Malone said in a phone interview. "I haven't made a decision yet." Malone said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich have been in constant contact. <font color="navy">Malone would make about $1.8 million if he returned to the Lakers. But he said the team has offered him a three-year deal for almost $7 million to come back.</font> Malone made $1.5 million last year with the Lakers, a pay cut of about $17.5 million from what he earned during the 2002-03 season with the Jazz. The Spurs, who re-signed former Laker forward Robert Horry Tuesday, have said they'd like to offer Malone a similar contract to play for them. Malone said ABC and TNT have called him to gauge his interest in working as an NBA analyst if he decides to retire. "I know everybody is waiting on me," Malone said. "I don't know what I'm going to do." Malone, 41, said his doctors cleared him to do about 20 minutes of biking. He said he has started to increase his workouts.
Great news, he is still very effective, especially on the defensive end. I think if we can keep him he would be a 6th man for us just because of health issue and would really help this team out..
Why in earth would you offer Karl Malone a 3 year deal? He will be in the retirement home by the 2nd year.
The 3 year deal is probably projected for him so he can stay on the team up to three years so the team matures and builds chemistry and eventually be able to win the championship.
3 year deal for $7? geez, are they crazy. i wouldn't even pay him that much anymore since he got injured. his old nad his injury will hunt him in the next 3 years.
you guys aren't realizing if he gets paid the same money as a three year, 7 million deal would only be like 2.3 a year, its not that much for karl malone, especially with all the new people on the team he could be a big help to them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Why in earth would you offer Karl Malone a 3 year deal? He will be in the retirement home by the 2nd year.</div> Vet leadership, experience, teach young guns like Brian Cook..and if we acquire Nicolyce Shkeetishfeely ( I cant spell dudes name) Malone would be a great person to teach him...player coach maybe like Avery Johnson..
I appreciate everything Karl Malone did for our Lakers last year, but are we crazy? A three year deal?? The man is already 40 years old, he's showing signs of wear and tear, and let's face it...the man is only good for a 6th man position because for one his 18 footer isn't what it used to be anymore, and his knee or soon to be knees are already shot. A 1 year deal at best for Karl Malone in my opinion.
lol wow I can't believe people are complaining about a deal that would pay him 7 mil over three years.. especially considering he only took 1.5 mil for us last season. That kind of small salary won't make any kind of impact on us whatsoever, and if anyone deserves that kind of guarantee at that age, it's Karl. Hell, I'd be happy if they could offer him a 12 mil contract over those three years, that guy is worth it. Rick Fox, who will probably be lucky to play more than 30 games with our deep roster, is going to make 5 million next year.. after hearing that doesn't that offer to Karl sound pretty cheap?
It doesn't say that the 3 years are guaranteed. Maybe they're offering an option. Anyway, that's still a pretty sweet deal for Karl Malone. So what if he's 40? That guy is the most fit 40 year old I've ever seen. He was just unlucky last year but that was one year. Before that year, he was never seriously injured and he already said this year that he's feeling healthy. I don't see how you can complain if the Lakers got him with this contract. They're already young but you gotta have at least one old guy to teach em the ropes.
Karl Malone can change the Lakers from 2nd or 3rd place in our division to a division leader...in other words, we need a rebounder and we need someone to put elbows in Tim Duncan's back. Regardless of his age, Malone can and will defend guys better than Brian Grant or Slava Medvedenko.
3 year deal at 7 million is really chump change for Karl. I'd love to have him on our roster. Regardless of his age, he will still clearly be the best big man the Lakers would have on the front
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">lol wow I can't believe people are complaining about a deal that would pay him 7 mil over three years.. especially considering he only took 1.5 mil for us last season.</div>it seems some lakers fans don't appreciate what they had or what they've been given.
Karl Malone is one of the best defenders in the league. He is a great fit to any team. He is worth those 3 years IMO. I would prefer him to go to the Heat with SHaq, but I wouldn't mind if he stays. He is the current top free agent. Malone is a very underrated defender and he was a main part of the Lakers run last year. Without Malone they would'nt have beaten the Spurs. If Karl was 100% healthy in the game against the Pistons, the Lakers would've won. He is also one of the only players who can hold their own against Shaq. I dont know why you guys say he isn't worth it. Karl Malone is underrated especially on the defensive end.
I'm going to laugh if Malone lasts longer than the Diesel...I know it won't happen, but he's been playing now since 1985...where Shaq has been in the league since 1992, and is already fat, slow and worn. That big fat paycheck really does wonders for his body...millions and millions are served at McDonalds, but they aren't counting Shaq going in there 10 times daily either. Malone > Shaq right now...so the Lakers need to do what they can to bring the Mailman back...whether it's a 3 year contract, or whatever...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm going to laugh if Malone lasts longer than the Diesel...I know it won't happen, but he's been playing now since 1985...where Shaq has been in the league since 1992, and is already fat, slow and worn. That big fat paycheck really does wonders for his body...millions and millions are served at McDonalds, but they aren't counting Shaq going in there 10 times daily either. Malone > Shaq right now...so the Lakers need to do what they can to bring the Mailman back...whether it's a 3 year contract, or whatever...</div> I'll try to say this in a decent way... Did you lost your mind? Yeah... you would prolly want a 40 year old guy with the knees of my grand-grand-grandmother than a 340-pound monster who comes back in shape and is a 30-20 threat every night... Laker fans are only getting stupider every hour... Edit : I forgot R. Miller> J. O'Neal anyday of the week... You really lost your mind man!
Here, I've already posted this in another thread, so here's my reason why I think everyone else is losing their mind if they think that Shaq is soo valuable. Maybe I don't want a deteriorating, slow sloth laying underneath the hoop...waiting to be pushed and hacked to go to the charity stripe. Big men aren't the most important thing in basketball. Michael Jordan played with Perdue, Cartwright, Longley, Wennington, and Grant...where does Mihm fit in with that group? Better or worse than those players? I'm going to laugh my @ss off when the Miami Heat realize that Shaq is just an expensive liability, and when he retires in two years, how they're gonna wish they didn't spend $30 million a year for a guy who probably will go out like Ewing did in Seattle, or Hakeem in Toronto. Worse, he'll probaby be injured and sit the bench for his huge paycheck. Either way, like I said...I'm glad the ogre is gone...so he doesn't snowplow our fans the next time he gets hit by Tayshaun Prince. Shaq would just cause a sh*tload of drama like he did last year, especially now...so why have a guy who's not ever going to get any better, plus keeping him when he's going to cause trouble? If I was Buss, I would say to myself, "Hey, why should I risk another season with Bryant/Shaq, when they haven't gotten it done in two years?" Then I'd seek the problem...which IMO is Shaq. If your thoughts are against Kobe, that's fine too...but out of the two, which will eat up the cap more? Shaq, by about twice as much. Which of these two star players will retire first? Shaq, in about two years...during his contract. Which of these two guys is already past their prime? Shaq. Get rid of Shaq while he's declining, not after he's a worthless scrub.
