Do you think Shaq Should/Will Retire After This Season?

LascelleL · Post #1 » by **LascelleL** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:42 pm

I know he says he still has some juice left in his tank. And we've seen hes still able to have 20pts/8reb nights, but do you think he should put it away after the season

BigShaq · Post #2 » by **BigShaq** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:39 pm

-It depands on how much teams are willing to pay him and for how long
- he can go with the Lakers for almost nothing just to win his 5 or 6 th title

Post #3 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:42 pm

He's still a top 10 center, I can't imagine why he's retire when he can still help teams

tidho · Post #4 » by **tidho** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:35 pm

Only if the Cavs win. I think he'd take the opportunity to go out on top.
Obviously he only comes back here if LeBron re-ups, otherwise he's off to Denver to help Melo win a title.

jaypo · Post #5 » by **jaypo** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:39 pm

Well, in the last few interviews he did, he claims that he will have 5 or 6 titles staring at him on his desk, and I'm no mathemitician, but he only has 4. If he wins this year it will be 5. The only way to get to 6 is to play another year!

Post #6 » by **Rise Against** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:29 pm

I think Shaq has another year left in him.

LascelleL · Post #7 » by **LascelleL** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:19 am

You think Cavs would re-sign him?

Ballah · Post #8 » by **Ballah** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:27 am

LascelleL wrote:You think Cavs would re-sign him?

Ask again after we beat orlando in the conference finals.

Cookin Baskets · Post #9 » by **Cookin Baskets** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:40 am

I think he can play 2 more after this at most,at least one more year. not retiring this year. Yea Shaq needs to win 5 titles for his monster career.

Triumph36 · Post #10 » by **Triumph36** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:34 am

LascelleL wrote:You think Cavs would re-sign him?

Assuming he doesn't demand a ridiculous contract (which is a realistic possibility), yes, absolutely.

Dupp · Post #11 » by **Dupp** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 4:19 am

He will play again next year. dont know if he'll go on after that...

maybe if we got 2 straight titles hed stick around for the three peat / optimism

vct33 · Post #12 » by **vct33** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:12 pm

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Shaq played for the Vet Min next year. He can certainly get more than that but I don't think he could get enough to satisfy his ego. So I could see him taking the min and play it off as "I just want to win" or "I just want to be a team player". In his eyes it would be less of a hit to his reputation than admitting that he's only worth part of somebody's MLE.

TonyMontana · Post #13 » by **TonyMontana** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:18 pm

Shaq has already made it clear that he wants to finish his career as a Laker since thats where he started winning his titles and he wants to retire his N# as a Laker next to some of the greatest centers to ever play this game. So I think he will come back to LA for his last remaining seasons.

BUT thats all up to Buss, Kobe and Phil since when he left LA he burned a lot of bridges on his way out etc.

landphil · Post #14 » by **landphil** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:45 pm

TonyMontana wrote:Shaq has already made it clear that he wants to finish his career as a Laker since thats where he started winning his titles and he wants to retire his N# as a Laker next to some of the greatest centers to ever play this game. So I think he will come back to LA for his last remaining seasons.

BUT thats all up to Buss, Kobe and Phil since when he left LA he burned a lot of bridges on his way out etc.

I dont know why I wouldn't believe you since everything I've seen you post on this board has been of such quality but I might as well ask...can you find one credible story where shaq has said this (and please dont give me links from 2-3 years ago when Shaq was in a much different situation than he is now, aka on a suns/heat team with no chance to win the title...)?

TonyMontana · Post #15 » by **TonyMontana** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:23 pm

landphil wrote:
TonyMontana wrote:Shaq has already made it clear that he wants to finish his career as a Laker since thats where he started winning his titles and he wants to retire his N# as a Laker next to some of the greatest centers to ever play this game. So I think he will come back to LA for his last remaining seasons.

BUT thats all up to Buss, Kobe and Phil since when he left LA he burned a lot of bridges on his way out etc.

I dont know why I wouldn't believe you since everything I've seen you post on this board has been of such quality but I might as well ask...can you find one credible story where shaq has said this (and please dont give me links from 2-3 years ago when Shaq was in a much different situation than he is now, aka on a suns/heat team with no chance to win the title...)?

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sport ... Laker.html

"Hopefully it'll be here," he said, walking through the hallway in Staples Center. "I was part of the greatest one-two punch in Laker history. Hopefully they still remember that.

"In a perfect world, I have four teams, I'd be the first guy standing there with all four jerseys, number retired in all four places. It's not something I really think about. If I had my first wish, it would be here. Because when I first came here, I made the statement I would love to have my name next to Kareem and those greats."

http://sportzassassin2.blogspot.com/200 ... -next.html

And finally, the Lakers cannot afford him. Unless he comes to LA for the veteran's minimum or the $2M exception, he can't fit under their cap or luxury tax threshold.

Shaq will be a Laker again when he's long retired. He'll come back to LA to see his No. 34 jersey retired among the other Laker greats. That's the only time he'll be a Laker again.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumo ... ref=fromSI

Lakers coach Phil Jackson implied that he wouldn't be averse to seeing Shaquille O'Neal take a final dance in a Lakers uniform one day. "We know that there's always a chance you'll have an opportunity to have a player like that," Jackson said, a wry smile coming across his face. "I was thinking about Robert Parish coming and playing one season with the Chicago Bulls. Playing a limited role, but being an influence on a team when he's 40 years old. "So, we always say these old crocodiles, these alligators that patrol the lanes, have a long life span. So it would be great to see (O'Neal) back someday and, you know, coaching him." When told of Jackson's comments, O'Neal laughed heartily and said, "He's right," then sent another compliment Jackson's way. "He (Jackson) was great. He let us do what we did. His thing was, we're winning and we won the championship, so he's not going to mess with it. That's what it was about."

LascelleL · Post #16 » by **LascelleL** » Mon Mar 1, 2010 2:56 am

That was when he was on the Suns. I don't think he expected to be traded to the Cavs or a contender. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him as a Laker for Nostalgia purposes

TonyMontana · Post #17 » by **TonyMontana** » Mon Mar 1, 2010 4:37 pm

LascelleL wrote:That was when he was on the Suns. I don't think he expected to be traded to the Cavs or a contender. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him as a Laker for Nostalgia purposes

I agree since he was traded in the offseason from the Suns, but these article/link are less than a year old and just like everyone else in life that is near the end of their career no matter where they are or who they are as your time gets closer for retirement you start planning on where you want to end up at the end of your career/retirement and its very obvious Shaq wants to retire as a Laker.

LascelleL · Post #18 » by **LascelleL** » Sat Mar 6, 2010 4:02 am

I have no problem with the possibility of becoming a Laker again. But I think your reaching just a bit.