narmerguy wrote:I think 4 years is just too soon. The rafters is not just about production, but also about commitment.
Really well put. This is how I'm leaning right now, though I am admittedly on the fence.
Pro: this is a guy who'll finish top-5 in history probably, and we got arguably his best 4-year stretch. Amazing run, a lot of fun.
Con: he was only here for 1 contract. And he terminated that contract early--literally left at the first opportunity. There is something problematic about that IMO. If he had re-upped with us on a 3-year deal, with an ETO after 2 years, and then blown out his knee and missed an entire season and then played mediocre the second season, then terminated the contract and left...I would probably be all about retiring his jersey. Because he did enough in the 4 years he was here--4 Finals, 2 MVPs, 2 titles, a lot of great memories--to earn it. But he didn't show the commitment to the franchise itself. Re-upping even on a short term deal to finish out the Heatles' run would've shown that commitment regardless of how it turned out.