Is Ira planting a seed?

[G.cracker]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/bask ... 9818.story

When I read this article about the possibility of Shaq being willing to forgo the last two years of his contract, I just assumed it was one of the nincompoop writers there other than Ira and Ethan having a spitball session without giving it thought or research, but no, it was Ira.

Now we've discussed it at length here. Why would he forgo the money even if he retires? He likes money. He took a little less to help the team. He thinks he deserves more. He is going through a divorce and needs it more now. Just doesn't make sense. But here is Ira suggesting it and acknowledging the league wipes it clean if he agrees to forgo. Ira then dreams of adding a Luol Deng.

The whole thing just feels too planted. Any other writer, I dismiss it as junk. Riley and Ira have sparred a little, but Riley likes and respects Ira. Is this a way to manufacture this sequence and not make it the surprise it would be? Makes me wonder.

In his blog, Ira also reveals that our prized top second round pick is indeed headed to Minny to complete the Antoine Walker from the C's trade that was then shipped to Minny with Blount and Ricky. We only have the Orlando #2 pick this summer, other than our first.

[heat4life]

In his blog, Ir also reveals that our prized top second round pick is indeed headed to Minny to complete the Antoine Walker from the C's trade that was then shipped to Minny with Blount and Ricky. We only have the Orlando #2 pick this summer, other than our first.

Yeah, I forgot about the two 2nd rounders that went to Boston for Antoine Walker. We could've had an early 2nd. Last time we had an early 2nd we screwed it up with Jerome Beasley. I guess we can hope for a Rasual Butler-type of role player with that Orlando pick.

Good news is we have three 2nd rounders in 2009 (Ours, Phillys and Indys) that we can use in trades, even to move up on this draft.

[IndoorOutdoor]

A check with the NBA office this week confirmed that should O'Neal announce and sign retirement papers after this season, bypassing the final two years on his contract, his future salary would be wiped from the Heat's salary cap.

[Lane1974]

maybe Micky can do a wink-wink; we know Shaq wants to have ownership in a team someday, a little quid pro quo -- either Micky sells Shaq a minority share of the Heat (ala Magic Johnson and the Lakers), or can grease the skids as being the head of the Board of Governors for Shaq to get in the Orlando situation.

[IndoorOutdoor]

maybe Micky can do a wink-wink; we know Shaq wants to have ownership in a team someday, a little quid pro quo -- either Micky sells Shaq a minority share of the Heat (ala Magic Johnson and the Lakers), or can grease the skids as being the head of the Board of Governors for Shaq to get in the Orlando situation.

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[CRHeel94]

That scenario is him walking away from all that cash without a buyout? I just don't see that happening. Maybe...maybe next year. Or maybe with a buyout.

[heat4life]

40 millions are 40 millions. Nothing to walk away from; even if your name is Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Paul Allen, Donald Trump or Mickey Arison.

[CRHeel94]

I could understand a buyout so that he can play elsewhere(say $28 million), but walking away from $40M just won't happen.

[unowen85]

If Shaq agrees to a buyout, lord willing, I'll give him the greatest gift of all.

[M_nus]

If Shaq agrees to a buyout, lord willing, I'll give him the greatest gift of all.

Your virginity?

OH SNAP.

[unowen85]

Na son. The greatest gift of all is a child's laughter.

[HeatInOhio]

This scenario is a pipe dream. Shaq isn't going to lay 40 mill on the table and just walk away from it. And since his contract is so huge, a buyout doesn't do us much good either. Even if, after the season, he agreed to a $30 mill buyout we would still owe a major chunk of change on our salary cap. I don't think the money would spread out evenly over the final two years but lets just say 15 mill per season. That does nothing for us.

The only way it might make sense for a buyout is if they can get it under 20 mill total which would then free up enough cap space to make sense. But that's a lot of dough for Shaq to leave on the table. We would probably be better served holding on to Shaq and have 28 mill in expiring deals (his and Blount's) in the 2009-2010 season unless the buyout price was very low.

[Lane1974]

pride < $40 million

[HeatInOhio]

pride < $40 million

Hey, I thought 40 million would be a little more money than this... I was thinking the same thing. That Ira Winderman is fulla chit man.

[Harry Heinous]

-= original quote snipped =-




Hey, I thought 40 million would be a little more money than this... I was thinking the same thing. That Ira Winderman is fulla chit man.

one of the greatest flicks...ever.

Hey guys. Oh, big gulps huh? All right! Well, see ya later.

[G.cracker]

F*** Pride.

[heat4life]

F*** Pride.

(picture)

And 1!

Pat Riley was on Sedanos (not the latino supermarket) show and he commented on this article saying that Shaq is still a good player and basically downplaying Ira's article as pure speculation.

He also laughed at the comments from Broussard from ESPN saying that the reason the Heat are were they are is because of Riley's grueling practices. Riley went on to say that most of the team is injured so his practices in the last 3 years are nowhere close to what they used to be in the 90's. He also mentioned that only 8 players practiced yesterday.

btw G, what's up with the title of this thread? Ira plating a seed?

[DBurks2818]

Spel check.

[CoolD]

That would be super cool if Shaq did that. I would actually respect Shaq as a man, and will thank him big time. Ofcourse I think this article is more wishful thinking though, but who knows?

And lets say Shaq does this, what players should the Heat go after.

Ofcourse it wouldn't hurt, if we also got rid of Blount and Smush to add, that will free up 30 million dollars. With Wade, a top rookie, and all the money of the books, Heat could get back faster than ever.

[MartyConlonJr]

Can Smush and Blount retire too?