I can understand wanting a ring. I really can, but thing that bothers me is 1-Karl specifically said that he wanted to win a ring "as a man" and didn't want to ride anyones coattails. 2 - At least, last season he began the schedule playing. With this move, he sat at home and watched who was doing well and then decides he wants to go to that team. That's pathetic. I like Malone, but I can't respect this if it goes down. Your argument could be "He wanted to see who was playing the best team ball, but you know certain teams philosophies and who has a great chance to win. But to wait until the half-way part of the season to see who is winning, means A) that you don't wanna work too hard and "ride the tails" or your an idiot for finding a team that has a winning record and expect to have some input which could ruin team chemistry and overall feel. I guess the prior.
^I hear that. Doesn't it seem that Karl is just whoring himself to potential playoff teams to get that elusive ring? It kinda disgusts me how this whole process is turning out. I guess this is why I kinda respect Reggie in a way because he stuck with his team through thick and thin. He will not win a championship but you can't say that he didnt' try and stuck it out when the going got tough. I'm not hating on Karl at all but he is certainly looking more and more like a gun for hire.
Carl has already shown he's a bit of a whore by going to L.A. last year. Its just like what he's doin this year, but just that he was willing to work a little. When they had Shaq and Kobe, plus the glove, they thought they had it made in the shade, but it blew up in his face. I think Karl is done anyway, and the Spurs would be stupid to take him.
I think Malone should retire but I dont blame him for wanting to win a ring. I mean, you play the game to become a champion and even tho Malone has had a Hall-Of-Fame career he probably feels like he hasnt full-filled his career without a ring. As for Reggie, he still probably has a chance to win with Indiana, atleast make the finals. Thats if Artest returns. Malone had no chance in Utah so he tried with LA but unfortunatly that failed.
Heck no. He's totally washed up and just wants to go with the team that has the best chances of winning the championship. I mean seriously, I really don't think he has much left when hes 41 years old and whines about winning a championship. Like CourtVision said, take it like a man like Reggie Miller did. Miller stayed with the Pacers for his entire career- I mean he had so many chances of winning a championship, but he remained loyal to his team. Thats a true team player.
I agree, Saber. I don't respect him one bit for what he is doing. It's time for him to retire. His time has come and passed. For him to cherry-pick and go make a decision with the season about to be over soon is a joke. To determine which team is the team to beat and for him to play for that team is not right. How could anyone take him seriously when he wins his championship with the Spurs after not playing for most of the season? Guys for the Spurs did most of the dirty work all year and now for Karl to come in and play and get a championship for not even playing most of the season is embrassing for him. I think when all is said and done, Karl will not play. I expect him to retire. Once he realize what he is doing and once there will be lot of criticism coming into his way, he will realize that he is not doing himself any good by playing for the Spurs just to get a ring.
Malone has never been the sharpest tool in the shed, it's already been proven and made offical. However, he is free to do whatever he'd like, regardless of his age or abilities, he's simply a free agent. No one says a word when a Rafer Alson goes from signing with Milwaukee to Golden State, Toronto to Miami, than back to Toronto. You'll hear no criticism when Earl Boykins signs with The Nets than Cleveland, from Orlando back to Cleveland, inking with The Clippers only to move across town to Golden State, finally ending up in Denver. Why? Because they simply aren't the same caliber as Karl Malone. They don't have the size, they don't have the experience, they just don't bring nearly as much to the table as Karl Malone does. This is why you hear so much about Malone and his free agent status. The guy still possesses the ability to impact a championship outcome, and it's nearly midseason with Malone still lurking in the shadows, ready to shake the championship forefront at any given moment. This worries alot of people, fans are scared if Malone ends up in San Antonio, it's over for about 99.9% of the teams still capable of making a run. Thus you hear the complaints, you hear the criticism, it all stems from fear and the instability Malone is causing as he holds out on his decision. Look at the big picture, this is truly what's occuring right infront of your eyes. However in my opinion, if Malone was smart - which is the million dollar question - he'd sign himself a two year deal and play alongside Shaquille O'Neal (who has two years remaining on his contract) down in Miami. Why? It's simple. Who can compete with The Heat right now in The Eastern Conference? Detroit have declined greatly from their status last season. Indiana has lost Ron Artest and lost their competitive drive apperantly. Cleveland has Lebron James, but I don't think a frontline of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden would intimidate the LA reunion of Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone. It's obvious, Malone inking with The Miami Heat would make them instant run away favorites in The East. There's simply no contenders in that conference that could touch Miami, and Malone would be once again assured to appear in The NBA Finals. Could the same be said for The Spurs? Perhaps, but there's easily far more proven and far more difficult teams to face in The Western Conference. Sacramento, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, etc. Many teams pose threats in several different aspects, getting through 3 series wouldn't be an issue in The East, however in The West it becomes a major concern, a task Malone wouldn't be faced with if he found himself in Miami. Just my thoughts. If Malone truly wants a ring, than go play with your buddy Shaquille O'Neal and get yourself some gold with The Heat...
There are a lot of reasons Karl Malone should'nt play. 1. If he couldn't win with the Jazz, who had 2 legends on the team. He doesn't deserve a ring. 2. If he couldn't win with Kobe, Shaq, Payton, and himself, he doesn't deserve to win. 3. The San Antonio Spurs are a nice, clean, hard working, quiet, and unselfish team. If the Spurs went 3-79 one yer, would Tim Duncan ask to be traded? no. He's very loyal. Karl is none of those things. He's loud, opinionated, dirty, unloyal, and selfish. I almost want him to go to the spurs because i hate them and I hope their team chemistry would be ruined. 4. Ringless fingers get respect. When you think of people without a ring you think of Sir Charles, Reggie (before this year hopefully), Stock, Ewing, and so on. Some people love them. Some people hate them, but everyone respects them. If Malone is a spur, will anyone picture hikm as a Spur? No. That's like Montana being a Cheif, or Nique' being a C.
I think Malone is coming back too soon. He should wait until the last week of the regular season before he makes his decision, just in case Duncan goes down with an injury or something. That way he can be certain to 'earn' his ring, right?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Waneko:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Malone is coming back too soon. He should wait until the last week of the regular season before he makes his decision, just in case Duncan goes down with an injury or something. That way he can be certain to 'earn' his ring, right?</div> Won't happen cause if Duncan goes down, he'll have to work.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James X3:</div><div class="quote_post">However in my opinion, if Malone was smart - which is the million dollar question - he'd sign himself a two year deal and play alongside Shaquille O'Neal (who has two years remaining on his contract) down in Miami. Why? It's simple. Who can compete with The Heat right now in The Eastern Conference? Detroit have declined greatly from their status last season. Indiana has lost Ron Artest and lost their competitive drive apperantly. Cleveland has Lebron James, but I don't think a frontline of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden would intimidate the LA reunion of Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone. Heat.</div> I made the same points about Karl joining the Heat during the off-season. Playing in the East would not give his body such abuse and lengthen his career and effectiveness. Think about Wade, Shaq, and Malone. But at least in this aspect, he would be working for his ring instead of waiting for an awesome team to run the table and then go "Okay, I guess I'll join your team now, as long as it's not a burden on my schedule". I can appreciate his desire to win and not be another Barkley or Wilkins, but there is a difference between WINNING a ring and GETTING a ring. He is leaning towards the latter.
Karl Malone doesn't need to make apologies to anyone, regardless of what decision he makes. Whoreing himself? You must be kidding...... Malone's situation: -Injured, Unrestricted FA. -Well publicized rift with now lone Centerpiece of former franchise. -Hall of Fame PF, who when healthy can still dial it up for a playoff series Malone can go anywhere he wants to, IMO. If he wants to go to the contender with the best inside shot at a Championship, then more power to him. <font color="DarkRed">The man's earned the right.</font> He can still provide enough for a contending team to be interested in him and that's the name of the game. Malone's been unselfish his whole career. If he wants to be a little selfish and try to obtain something that he really wants at the end of a stellar career, so what? This stuff about him dimishing his career is garbage, IMO. He took a lesser role last year and did it well. He'll likely play a lesser role with anyone he signs with also. If he plays that role to the fulfillment of his employers wishes, then no ones got anything to complain about. Starring role or not, Karl Malone has always just been about doing his job the best he can, in the the role the team asks of him. There's nothing "diminished" about that.
The problem I have with Karl Malone signing with a team at this point in the season, is it takes a roster spot away from someone who's been on the team the entire year. A player who's practiced with the team, traveled with the team, and has been part of the chemistry from day 1. It's not fair to take that away from someone. Karl Malone winning a ring comes at the expense of someone being left off the playoff roster. Regardless of what Karl has done in his career, I couldn't justify bringing him aboard and cutting a player from my roster to make room for him. I really don't see Popovich accomadating Malone and signing him on with the Spurs. Malone has been taking his sweet time and teasing teams all season long about 'possibly' returning to play ONLY for them. From the Heat, to the Lakers, to the TWolves, and now to the Spurs. If anything, Malone should just retire.
I will always respect Karl Malone for what he has done in this league and the records he has had with Utah. His total career points and overall consistant play. However I will never like the guy not even If he does play in San Antonio. Most Spurs fans feel the same and will never cheer for the guy even If he is helping the team in some way. His role will be backing up Tim and when Rasho is on the bench, him and Tim will likely play togeather. I'm sure Karl will be able to play 15-20 minutes at the very least. I don't like the fact he is jumping on the Spurs bandwagon just to get a ring, he was given a chance to sign with the Spurs last year but in his mind the Lakers had a better chance giving that they had 3 other future hall of famers. I don't like the fact that he will sign with the Spurs purely because of my dislike for the guy but obviously Pop, Tim, RC and everyone in the franchise is backing to sign the guy which I expect to happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The problem I have with Karl Malone signing with a team at this point in the season, is it takes a roster spot away from someone who's been on the team the entire year. A player who's practiced with the team, traveled with the team, and has been part of the chemistry from day 1. It's not fair to take that away from someone. Karl Malone winning a ring comes at the expense of someone being left off the playoff roster. Regardless of what Karl has done in his career, I couldn't justify bringing him aboard and cutting a player from my roster to make room for him. </div> I'm not sure I lend it any credence on the issue, but that's an interesting point. I can't speak for the odd man out on the Spurs, but if this was going down on the C's, Our IR is filled with a phantom injuries (except Al Jeff). The odd man out if this was our problem is no one of consequence, so I could care less. Besides, this is job competition. Someone's gotta be the guy who loses his job to a better candidate.
i didn't like malone as a laker and if he decides to join the spurs, my respect for this guy will be almost gone. malone's image will definitly be tarnished if he makes this comeback.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">Karl Malone doesn't need to make apologies to anyone, regardless of what decision he makes. Whoreing himself? You must be kidding...... Malone's situation: -Injured, Unrestricted FA. -Well publicized rift with now lone Centerpiece of former franchise. -Hall of Fame PF, who when healthy can still dial it up for a playoff series Malone can go anywhere he wants to, IMO. If he wants to go to the contender with the best inside shot at a Championship, then more power to him. <font color="DarkRed">The man's earned the right.</font> He can still provide enough for a contending team to be interested in him and that's the name of the game. Malone's been unselfish his whole career. If he wants to be a little selfish and try to obtain something that he really wants at the end of a stellar career, so what? This stuff about him dimishing his career is garbage, IMO. He took a lesser role last year and did it well. He'll likely play a lesser role with anyone he signs with also. If he plays that role to the fulfillment of his employers wishes, then no ones got anything to complain about. Starring role or not, Karl Malone has always just been about doing his job the best he can, in the the role the team asks of him. There's nothing "diminished" about that.</div> ROFLMAO! Why should all the Spurs players ,who worked their tails off all year, welcome him knowing full well the regular season is about to be over. Also Malone is going to need couple of months to get back into basketball shape and etc. It's one thing to do it last year with the Lakers. I did not have a problem with it. Hell I would not have a problem with it if he played for the Spurs from the start of the season. Why wait and make a decision with the season about to be over in 2 and 1/2 months. This is about him cheerypicking which team is gurantee to win it all. I have more respect for guys like Ewing, Barkley, Miller, and Stockton for not going through another best team just to get a ring.
