Reply With Quote
No way he walks away from that much money.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/b...,0,49818.story
Having Shaq walk away from contract could help rebuild Heat
If Shaquille O’Neal were to bypass the final two years on his contract, with $40 million owed, his future salary would be wiped from the Heat’s salary cap. (Sun-Sentinel/Robert Duyos / January 23, 2008)
By Ira Winderman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 24, 2008
MIAMI - There is no easy way out.
Not from the 8-32 record the Heat carries into the midpoint of its season tonight against visiting San Antonio.
Not from the extreme revamp that this roster requires.
Not from the mortgage-the-future approach taken in constructing the 2006 team that delivered championship euphoria along Biscayne Boulevard.
Or is there?
Could salvation again come from the same liberator who drove up to AmericanAirlines Arena in a diesel rig in July 2004 with what proved to be a le in tow?
Shaquille O'Neal has proven to be many things in his four seasons in South Florida. Could he next be the Big Benefactor, willing to walk away from the $40 million owed on his contract over the next two seasons?
It certainly is a reach, longer than those Size 23 sneakers, wider than those biceps at full flex.
But it also is the easiest way out for the Heat for at least two more years.
First an explanation: Just counting the six players with salary commitments for next season (O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Mark Blount, Udonis Haslem, Smush Parker and Daequan Cook), plus the first-round pick the Heat will land in the June lottery, and then the required minimum contracts to fill out a 13-player roster, the Heat already is over the salary cap that will be set for next season.
The situation won't be much different in the 2009 offseason, with the type of salary-cap relief needed to infuse top-tier talent not to come until O'Neal's $20 million annual salary comes off the books in the 2010 offseason — the same summer Wade could leave as a free agent.
Unless, of course, O'Neal says "enough," says enough about battling these ongoing ailments, such as the sore hip that has him out at least two more weeks, says enough about constantly being harped upon about his weight and conditioning, says enough with collecting tens of millions of dollars for being a human piñata for younger, reckless, disrespectful opponents.
It was just eight years ago when O'Neal expressed distress over seeing Knicks center Patrick Ewing, at the end of perhaps an overstayed career, being booed at Madison Square Garden during the playoffs.
"What they did to him is wrong," O'Neal said at the time. "I would just quit. I know for a fact I won't be playing at 38."
His current contract says otherwise.
O'Neal did not make himself available for comment Wednesday.
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.
Immediately, that would give the Heat the space to, say, add a Luol Deng or Elton Brand, with enough space left over to address at least one or two additional needs — and still sign that lottery pick.
Wade. Deng. Haslem. University of Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. And spare change for the very type of complementary players the Heat lacks this season.
As for compensating for the loss of O'Neal in the middle, consider that O'Neal's averages of 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds are currently almost mirrored by the likes of Seattle's Chris Wilcox and Washington's Brendan Haywood, players earning $6.5 million and $5 million this season, respectively.
Irrational? No one walks away from $20 million over each of the next two seasons?
Accepted.
But consider the one thing O'Neal never would allow himself to become is the Big Punchline. He will never be anybody's Erika Dampier. Never.
Then consider this past week having to listen to TNT's Charles Barkley talk about him being "on the downside,"or of the ongoing mockery on ESPN by the banal likes of Skip Bayless.
Also consider that Dave Cowens, Bill Russell and fellow bigger big men Bob Lanier and Wes Unseld called it a career before their 36th birthdays, with O'Neal to hit that number March 6.
And it's not as if the money would dry up, not after investments seeded with over $250 million in salary already collected, not with the inroads O'Neal has made in the sneaker market in China, not with how he still will have a considerable presence during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, without actually being an All-Star.
"I think he will continue to have dominance in that field," Scott Sanford, a senior client director for Davie Brown Talent, said earlier this week of O'Neal's marketing potential.
At $20 million per year? No, Sanford said. But at a considerable rate, considering how O'Neal still ranks favorably on the index Sanford's company utilizes that "determines a celebrity's ability to influence brand affinity and consumer purchase intent."
While O'Neal has more than earned the right to make his own decision on his own terms and timetable during an immensely successful career, he also stands as the simplest short-term solution to what has become unceasing pro basketball misery in South Florida.
Ira Winderman can be reached at [email protected].
No way he walks away from that much money.
Walk away and sign with the Lakers for the MLE and back up Bynum.....
More like get bought out and sign with the Lakers for the MLE. No way Shaq walks away from the money, imo.Walk away and sign with the Lakers for the MLE and back up Bynum.....
Well I guess this answers that question.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailyd...ge=dime-080125
Shaq: No Plans For Early Retirement
Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal told ESPN Radio's Jack Ramsay that he has no plans to retire before his contract expires at the end of the 2009-10 season.
"I am the son of an army drill sergeant, and when we enlist, we go full-term," O'Neal said. "So I've got two years left on my term, and after that, I'll be looking to do other things.''
Shaq said his weight is between 315 and 320 pounds, having lowered his body fat to 11 percent. ''I've never been that here,'' he said. "I've always been between 13 and 14 percent body fat. I'm in the best shape of my life. I worked my butt off, and now this.''
O'Neal, who turns 36 on March 6, is averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds. He has now missed nine games this season.
''Whenever my numbers have slowed down, it hasn't been because of humans,'' O'Neal said. "It has been [because of] freak injuries.''
Bought them a championship. Riley knew what he was getting into when he mortgaged the future. He lucked out in 06.
He said he wouldn't but Shaq should really retire. His career is great and he shouldn't let it end on a bad note.
Will Shaq walk one day ?
Oh, wait, I think I misread the question...
No ing way. He might roll away, but he's not walking anywhere.
Shaq giving up $40 million??
At least he can borrow Wade's wheelchair.
$40MM guaranteed in salary? No walking away. He'll become a professional rehabber (is that a word?)
Wishful thinking forum.
Wishful thinking indeed by Heat fans,
What should Shaquille O'Neal's next step be?
Rehabilitating strenuously to return this season (96 responses)
8.3%
Putting his efforts into two strong final seasons with the Heat (288 responses)
24.8%
Compromising on a buyout to finish his career with a contender (234 responses)
20.2%
Retiring, even at the loss of salary, to maintain his legacy and benefit the team that afforded him one final le (542 responses)
46.7%
1160 total responses (Results not scientific)
He really should retire and give the Heat cap space but he won't. He is going to bleed Miami for those 40 million. Riley needs to focus on the lottery instead.
Would any of you walk away from $40 million?
One can never have enough money.
Why should people feel sorry for the Heat? Nobody put a gun to their heads and forced them to give him that long of a contract. They leveraged their future for a short window at a le and they got it. Now they are paying the mortgage. Big ing Deal. Why should Shaq cut them a break and retire? Who here would walk away from $40 million, even if they were already as rich as Shaq? The alternative is to go home for good and balloon up to 410 lbs.
Add that Shaq is going thru a divorce right now. I never really thought he would retire without pay, i certainly wouldn't. The right thing is for Miami to either buy him out or keep him and deal with it. A deal's a deal!
Considering according to reports he is spending close to a million bucks a month, i'd say he can't afford to retire.
Hes about to lose one half of his net worth thru divorce you really think theres a chance in of him giving up his final 40 mil in NBA salary?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
