Will Shaq hang it up?

[Chris]

  The smart thing to do would be to have a couple of players you can count on and Shaq, and play Shaq sparingly during the season. If he's healthy in the playoffs it's a great boon, if he's not you're covered. Don't pencil him in as your starting center, but if anyone thinks our last center off the bench is more important than even a 40% possibility of a contributing Shaq they're kidding themselves.

I agree with this.  If he realizes during the season that its just not going to happen, he can always retire then, and they can fill the roster spot.  But if he still wants to play, I see no reason not to give him a roster spot on the off chance he is able to help them at some point.  

[Bahku]

I'd love to keep Shaq around if he can get healthy enough to contribute, but it seems to me that his injuries are more chronic and persistent than he or the organization are letting on. If that's the case, he should move on to his sportscaster dream as soon as possible, if not, let's get him back on the court for the 2012 post-season especially.

[Fred Roberts]

If Shaq wires his mouth shut and drinks nothing but smoothies for four months, he might lose enough weight to be effective when his body heals up. Baby could wire his shut too and benefit.

I'd like to have Shaq back. The money isn't an issue. Sign Kwame to eat up minutes during the regular season at the minimum and have Shaq in the background as an option if things improve. TP to BBallTim's assessment.

[Marcus13]

I dont think his ego will let him, he aint goin out like that playin 5 minutes in the playoffs

[j804]

Enough of the injuries, guessing game, and cringing everytime he leaves his feet havent we been through enough?

Shaq should just hang it up

[Brendan]

I'd be fine with Shaq as a nice to have healthy 15th man. Meaning play if healthy, but don't count on.

I think he's retiring.

[33-00-32]

For the vet minimum are we really going to do any better? If his legs are beyond repair then yes, go away. But if he can even give us the playing time PJ Brown did, come playoff time, he will be worth the very low price. I don't believe even Shaq thinks he can be the starting center on a championship caliber team but as the 3rd big off the bench at playoff time he could be an asset.

[mostofusrsad]

i suppose shaq is a bargain at vet min..but a team must not rely on him to do anything much...his presence is not a bad thing...but he just can't play the game any longer so what is the point?

[nickagneta]

If there's a basketball season next year and if there are 15 roster spots and if the C's actually want him back, then I say have Shaq pull a Roger Clemens. Take up the 15th spot and don't bother suiting up until March 1st. Do tons of cardio and practice with the team regularly but don't play. Then suit up in March, become a rotation player and have fun in the playoffs healthy.

Or

Retire.

[GreenFaith1819]

If there's a basketball season next year and if there are 15 roster spots and if the C's actually want him back, then I say have Shaq pull a Roger Clemens. Take up the 15th spot and don't bother suiting up until March 1st. Do tons of cardio and practice with the team regularly but don't play. Then suit up in March, become a rotation player and have fun in the playoffs healthy.

Or

Retire.

This.

Shaq is rare in that you can "plug and play" him....I don't see any harm in what Nick suggested.

[slamtheking]

let him retire.

I saw more of him when I was stuck behind his truck in a post-game traffic jam than I saw of him on the court all year.

[vinnie]

He wil be 40 years old and weighs between 350-400 pounds. he simply won't be healthy. He should retire.

[mostofusrsad]

He wil be 40 years old and weighs between 350-400 pounds. he simply won't be healthy. He should retire.

you know he is highly motivated by that 5th ring...so he can be equal to his good buddy Kobe....I get the feeling if he comes back it will be for that reason only, even if he can't contribute in a meaningful way to a team's championship.

[Chris]

He wil be 40 years old and weighs between 350-400 pounds. he simply won't be healthy. He should retire.

While I agree with this to a point, if his leg does return to 100% by next year, would you rather give that roster spot to him, with the chance that they could catch lightning in a bottle and he could help them, or give it to some NBDL player who has no chance of seeing the floor?

[moiso]

He wil be 40 years old and weighs between 350-400 pounds. he simply won't be healthy. He should retire.

you know he is highly motivated by that 5th ring...so he can be equal to his good buddy Kobe....I get the feeling if he comes back it will be for that reason only, even if he can't contribute in a meaningful way to a team's championship.

I don't think his competition with Kobe is high on his priorety list right now.  I bet he cares more about going out like a cripple and wasting his time working out when his body might not allow him to play.