Lockout = Massive celtics retirement party?

[celticsclay]

After reading a lot of the coverage today it became apparent there is a very reasonable chance there will be no basketball this season. That made me wonder about the possibility that this could lead to the celtics having an epic retirement party. If there is no basketball until fall of 2012 it is hard to picture Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett signing new contracts and deciding to play after a year and a half off of basketball, especially KG. Here was a quick analysis I had of a few of the players and what might happen in a lockout that lasted over a year
Shaq - He is already retired. The only way this could effect anything is if he was rehabbing his injury on his own for personal health (he did look very lean on his recent late night appearance) and realized he was in reasonable shape next february when they announced a shorted season would be starting. A real pipe dream I know, but felt like writing it.

Kevin Garnett - I think he is the most likely casualty of a lost season. Given his age, mileage, recent injuries etc and how intensely he plays/trains it is hard to see him coming back at 36 to play on a new contract with so much time off.

Ray Allen - I think he would be more likely to be back than KG, but he would also be very old and a year off from regular games may make it very hard for someone his age to come back and play. Even more scary, would he be able to keep his shooting training and routines for a whole year and a half without any actual games? Even if you love the game as much as Ray that has got to get boring. Worried he could come back with a huge drop in his skills because of age/rust

Paul Pierce - He would not retire with the contract he has, but I do worry what kind of shape he would be in coming back cause of age and the fact that he hasn't always been a fitness fanatic throughout his career

Jermaine O'Neal - openly considered retirement after this past season. Have to think a year and a half without basketball would make the decision easy for him.

[Celticai]

After reading a lot of the coverage today it became apparent there is a very reasonable chance there will be no basketball this season. That made me wonder about the possibility that this could lead to the celtics having an epic retirement party. If there is no basketball until fall of 2012 it is hard to picture Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett signing new contracts and deciding to play after a year and a half off of basketball, especially KG. Here was a quick analysis I had of a few of the players and what might happen in a lockout that lasted over a year
Shaq - He is already retired. The only way this could effect anything is if he was rehabbing his injury on his own for personal health (he did look very lean on his recent late night appearance) and realized he was in reasonable shape next february when they announced a shorted season would be starting. A real pipe dream I know, but felt like writing it.

Kevin Garnett - I think he is the most likely casualty of a lost season. Given his age, mileage, recent injuries etc and how intensely he plays/trains it is hard to see him coming back at 36 to play on a new contract with so much time off.

Ray Allen - I think he would be more likely to be back than KG, but he would also be very old and a year off from regular games may make it very hard for someone his age to come back and play. Even more scary, would he be able to keep his shooting training and routines for a whole year and a half without any actual games? Even if you love the game as much as Ray that has got to get boring. Worried he could come back with a huge drop in his skills because of age/rust

Paul Pierce - He would not retire with the contract he has, but I do worry what kind of shape he would be in coming back cause of age and the fact that he hasn't always been a fitness fanatic throughout his career

Jermaine O'Neal - openly considered retirement after this past season. Have to think a year and a half without basketball would make the decision easy for him.

So... We'll have Avery Bradley, Rondo, Pierce, And JJJ.
That's a lot of cap space.

[LilRip]

i recall KG saying in an interview earlier this year that if a lockout happens that he will retire. So yeah, It seems like everyone's going to retire. i really wish our Big 3 won one more ring before the end (like that game 7 in LA)..

[Bahku]

I don't think so ... it's not in the heart of a Celtic to go out this way. Shaq's done, obviously, cuz he already said so, but I think the Big Three want to go out swinging, and they've all got more than one year left in them ... I say it's NOT happening.

[clover]

I don't know if the whole season were lost, but I can't believe the whole season will be lost.  I think the most likely outcome is a deal in about three months, but as long as there's a partial season I expect they'll all be there.  And how the playoffs for the partial season go could determine their interest in reupping cheap in 2012.

[2short]

Could argue the other side of coin as well.  Extended rest for older guys=better season.  It would have to help jermaine and I feel kg as well.  Ray will be playing everyday no matter what 

[toneskeet]

KG said in an interview he would give up his 18.8 million dollar salary to sit our the whole year.

[housecall]

I don't think so ... it's not in the heart of a Celtic to go out this way. Shaq's done, obviously, cuz he already said so, but I think the Big Three want to go out swinging, and they've all got more than one year left in them ... I say it's NOT happening.

TP,agree 100%

[Phil125]

A compressed Schedule would kill this team.  We played horrible in back to backs.  Imagine 50 games in 90 days like they did last lockout.  I'm not sure we'd be above .500.

I hate to see no season but I would also hate to see the guys go out like that in a compressed schedule. 

Season or no season I think KG is done after this one.  Ray could play a few more seasons in a reduced role.  JO might even benefit from a season off if he maintains a good low impact workout to stay in shape.  It might buy him a few more seasons.

[snowball]

even if there is a full year lockout,
none of the Celtics will retire.
A year off would actually make them fresher
and stronger. People seem so focused on age,
but that's not the issue, it's the wear and tear.
Whether you are 34,35,36,or 37, the body is essentially
99% the same it was as the previous year.

[snowball]

All that is needed, of course, is regular conditioning.
Aerobic and weights, endurance. The body is a healing
machine, but it's best sustaining repairs are performed
over long, un-interrupted periods of time which
exist where it doesn't have to focus its healing on
one or two nagging injuries. This is a complex
subject, but you all know what I mean.
This is why you have KG saying he's like to sit out a year.
KG sitting out a year is not a loss for him, because
in all likelihood, doing so would actually ADD another
entire year onto his career length.

[WeMadeIt17]

Can someone bring that article up where KG said he would retire?

[Fred Roberts]

They're rich enough to retire, but I'd like to see them all come back rested, healthier and hungry to get it done once more. Hopefully, Ray and Kevin are excited about the cap space to sign someone significant and willing to take MLE type money and slightly less minutes to facilitate an extension of our reign as a top level competitor.

I can't see Ray and Kevin wanting to walk away from year after year contention so easily after they toiled for non-contenders for so long. I can't imagine they're satisfied. Shaq got 4 rings and is 39 and unable to play. Kevin and Ray are 5 years younger, fairly healthy, have 1 ring, 1 devastating game 7 loss for a second ring and a bitter taste in their mouths from losing to the lame Miami Heat in close game this year.

[Green Hell]

Whether there is a lockout or not, this season IS going to be a retirement party, if it takes 82 games or 0.

[Marcus13]

I just don't see the NBA missing an entire season.  That can really kill a brand.

As far as retirements, I do think this is KG and Jermaine's last season but that's it