A number of NBA players contemplate retirement every summer. They think about training camp, the preseason, 82 games and possibly the playoffs ... and wonder if their bodies will be able to withstand it all.
Here are 10 who should do the smart thing and call it a career:
10. Mikki Moore, F, Boston. Wasn't wanted by Sacramento and sat the bench in Boston's playoff games, despite the fact the team was missing both Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe. Is 33 years old and averaged just 3.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Bottom line: If you can't beat out Brian Scalabrine for playing time, it's time to think long and hard about a new line of work.
9. Jamal Magloire, F/C, Miami. Averaged 2.9 points in 55 games this past season and it was his best output in three years. Questions about his desire have plagued his entire career, and now he lacks talent, too. Another unrestricted free agent who will be lucky to match the $797,581 he stole from the Heat last season.
8. Kevin Ollie, G, Minnesota. A wonderful guy and potential future coach, Ollie has somehow survived in the league for 11 years despite never averaging more than 6.0 points or 3.7 assists. He's 36 and an unrestricted free agent. It was a nice run from a nice guy.
7. Rasheed Wallace, F/C, Detroit. Completely mailed it in during the season's second half, although he does deserve a little bit of a pass for playing with injuries. Still, Sheed didn't care that much when he was younger. Now that he's 34, he's become little more than a 3-point shooter who only defends when the mood strikes him.
6. Adonal Foyle, C, Orlando. Averaged 5.9 points per game way back in 2001 and it was considered a breakout year. He hasn't hit that milestone since, or really even come close, averaging 4.1 points and 4.7 rebounds for his 12-year career. You can bet there are a lot of centers toiling in the D-League who are ticked off Foyle has held the job that they deserve.
5. Theo Ratliff, C, Philadelphia. Great defender in his younger years, but is 36-years old and has played for six different teams, including five in the past five seasons. It doesn't help that he has scrambled eggs for knees. Another unrestricted free agent who won't be back with his most recent team.
4. Larry Hughes, G, New York. Is unlike everyone else on this list in that he's still under contract ($13.6 million, final year). But Hughes no longer has close to the explosiveness that made him somewhat valuable earlier in his career, and he seems to whine about his playing time and role regardless of where he goes (although he‘s kept his mouth shut so far in New York). He's wildly inconsistent and too often takes shots just because he thinks it's his turn. Great guy off the court; much too selfish on it. Should collect his check this season then take up tennis or golf or some other sport that doesn't require team play.
3. Grant Hill, F, Phoenix. Still productive and worthy of starting minutes even at the age of 36, as could be evidenced by his 27 points in the Suns' season-finale against Golden State. He even played in all 82 games this past season for the first time in his 14-year career. But after so many foot problems in the earlier part of the decade, he just can't defend like he used to. Hill has an opportunity to call it quits while still productive and not many former All-Stars can say that.
2. Michael Finley, G, San Antonio. Like Hill, Finley was far from horrible this past season. Like Hill, Finley is 36 and n unarestricted free agent. And like Hill, Finley played in more than 80 games (81) and was a solid contributor. But like Hill, Finley should quit while he's ahead. Especially since the Spurs are likely to offer more time to Roger Mason Jr. and second-year man George Hill at Finley's position this year.
1. Stephon Marbury, G, Boston. Sat out most of the season after almost single-handedly ruining the Knicks the year before. Played well in spurts and towed the company line in Boston by working hard and never complaining. But point guards tend to loose their legs once they get into their early 30s, and Marbury will be 33 in February. There's no telling if he can still play meaningful minutes -- and there's never been any evidence that he could make a difference when it came to winning, anyway. He's an unrestricted free agent, meaning now is his chance to walk away from the NBA and take big money in Europe, something he once pledged to do.
BEST OF THE REST: Ben Wallace, F/C, Cleveland; Lindsey Hunter, G, Chicago; Lorenzen Wright, C, Cleveland; Chris Mihm, F/C, Memphis; Damon Jones, G, Milwaukee; Malik Rose, F, Oklahoma City; Tyronn Lue, G, Orlando; Donyell Marshall, F, Philadelphia; Bobby Jackson, G, Sacramento.
Sam Amico is the editor of Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at amico@probasketballnews.com.