Which 2006 free agents will retire?

[VlaDiv]

Right now, there are no players like Reggie Miller last year who have clearly stated that they will retire. And look who's not in the league anymore - sprewell, w. person, tom gugliotta, laettner, vlade, bradley, glenn robinson, k. gill, scott willliams, willis, coleman, a peeler, k anderson, kittles, jerome williams ... my point is, some of these guys you'd picture playing another year or two but they aren't.

So feel free to guess on these over-30 06 free agents playing next season or not. I have excluded big stars like Ben Wallace who will get mutli-year deals for sure. here's my predictions.

Tony Delk age 32 - Has yet to play for atlanta. May go to Miami soon. Tough call, 50/50 but i'll say YES he will not play next season, he'll sit in the free agent pool until he retires. Teams are going young with their role players and Delk is no all-star.

Olowokandi, 31 - who would want him? You'd be surprised. Teams love big fellas like this former no.1 pick. A definite NO for retirement but don't expect a big salary either.

Piatkowski, 36 - can shoot the rock, but getting up there. If person and peeler don't have a team, why the heck would he? YES I think he's about done after this year, the bulls aren't a veteran team and he can't help enough to merit a deal or some young prospect.

Alan Henderson, 34 - NO, I think the veteran brusier will hang on to a bench somewhere.

Van Horn, 31 - NO, but a smaller deal for sure.

A. Griffin, 32 - YES, will get lost in the FA shuffle.

D. Armstrong, 38 - NO, despite his age he wants to play one more before going into coaching. I think dallas will once again keep him.

Bryon Russell, 36 - You know that van morrison song, real real gone? that's him. so YES, the man who was crossed over by Jordan may have already played his last?

L. Hunter, 36 - YES, he's about done.

Cheaney, 35 - Tough call cause he's that veteran role player lockeroom guy with a little defense, but I'd lean towards YES he'll retire.

Jon Barry, 37 - NO, teams like his bench 3pt gig.

Wesley, 36 - NO, he still gives you double digit scoring.

McCarty, 32 - NO, might stick around a little longer. Would Boston have him back for minimum as an old fan favorite and help the young guys? who knows.

Sam Cassell, 37 - NO WAY, he's playing well, like it's a contract year and he's not far from his all-star form of only 2 years ago. Only listed for consideration because he was born in 1969. He's old in the nba.

B-Jax (33) , Wright (31) and Atkins (32) of the grizzlies- no, no and no.

Payton, 38 and Mourning, 36 of heat - no on payton he'll play one more in his HOF career, and perhaps YES on zo if they don't make the finals. With his kidney surgery, he ain't here to lose in the playoffs.

Erv Johnson, 39 and Kukoc 38 of bucks - Yes, I think both will done, kukoc more by choice to play in europe but johnson i'd be shocked if he played next year.

Vaughn 31 and Murray 33 of nets - Yeah they both will be washed out for youngs.

aaron williams 35 - no, i guess if the hornets even want him, maybe he can still play?

penny hardaway, 35 - no, he ought to, but he's determined to go on with a different team, maybe orlando or memphis.

Cato, 32 - no, he's a decent big man.

Outlaw 35, no he'll stick around as a lockeroom guy.

Augmon, 38 - he's still going? Yes, he will be out of the league this summer I would guess.

Mashburn, 34- what's that eagles song? about being already gone?
Yeah.

Van exel, 35- yes. I like him, but he was close to it last year. Would reconsider if the spurs win?

A. Davis, 38 - hard to say. This hasn't been his year with the trade and fan incident. But he's a player at the C spot who teams could use. I'll say no, he's not done yet.

Brunson, 34- yeah. why have him when you can get a prospect.

d martin, 35 - yeah, but i would have said the same thing last year.

Ostertag, 33- hard call. he shouldn't have been playing this long, right? If the jazz philosophy is more backward than forward, and it might be since he is still there, then he might play for utah for the next 5 or more years. Or, he could be done. I'll say NO, somebody will want this 7'2'' body on a bench.

[cyanide]

Wow, that's a lot of research and analysis you did.

My money's on Stacey Augmon. I didn't think the guy's still around. As for the other guys, I think most of them will stick around for another year or two, and if the "younger" ones fall into free agency, I doubt they will retire, but rather keep trying to hook up with a team.

[Matt]

L. Hunter, 36 - YES, he's about done

might be the case, but i hope not. It's as if only a short time ago he started his career in Detroit, i still got his rookie card. Anyways, he's a real classy guy and a good ball player. I hope he sticks around the team in some form if he does retire.

[Num33Baller]

Zo, Delk, and Van exel will go at least one more year.

[VlaDiv]

Wow, that's a lot of research and analysis you did.

My money's on Stacey Augmon. I didn't think the guy's still around. As for the other guys, I think most of them will stick around for another year or two, and if the "younger" ones fall into free agency, I doubt they will retire, but rather keep trying to hook up with a team.

Thanks. It's kind of fun to analyze and then see what happens. I wonder if I might start a blog, people are making some dough off the good ones I hear.

Augmon does seem like he disappeared somewhere around the 2000 mark, but yet he's in orlando. Along with fellow former piston grant hill, I wonder when he will hang it up?

As for Hunter, he was a longtime pistons favorite too. But has he played this year? I don't think so. I wonder what's going on with him, B. Russell, Delk, Sura, all these guys who can't get on the court.

[[L3]1101]

what about Dikembe Mutombo? isn't hel like 45 year old now? lol

[Its_asdf]

Kevin Willis is going to de-nounce his retirement and come back for another season.

I think Antonio Davis is going to retire.

[Axel]

I'd like to see Zo become a coach.

[Gator]

I'd like to see Zo become a coach.

he'll probably be showing his muscles after his team scores a point..''yea i tought them''..

[Amphatoast]

yeah im suprised you miss mutumbo.. i believe this will be his last year no doubt especially if the rockets don't make it the playoffs... his production is superlow this year

[zmac]

I think Zo definitely wont, hes playing too good to just up and quit...Erv J is def gonna retire on the other hand.

[Anthony15]

Russell will probably sign another 1 year deal with the Nuggets play a couple of mins every game and then retire!

[Fitzy]

augmon and johnson will

[Jugs]

yeah im suprised you miss mutumbo.. i believe this will be his last year no doubt especially if the rockets don't make it the playoffs... his production is superlow this year

He did sign a 2 year deal in the offseason and said that those 2 seasons will be his last

[Laxation]

I'd like to see Zo become a coach.

he'll probably be showing his muscles after his team scores a point..''yea i tought them''..

lmfao

i doubt hunter will retire, really doubt it

[VlaDiv]

yeah, I didn't include guys like Mutombo and Cliff Robinson since they have 2 year deals, even though they are the 2 oldest.

[Matt]

Hunter is crucial to the Pistons championship aspirations this year most deffinately. Hopefully he'll stick around next year too.

[dada]

From the voting it looks like everybody just went with the oldest guy.


....just an observation

[mark_30_112]

Yeah I hope Cliff Robinson doesn't go he was one of the first one's to wear the headband that looked decent...

[KIG1]

Im gonna say Zo beacause he seems like the type that wants to spend more time with his wife and kids