Reggie's Last Shot?

Now, it would seem that Reggie Miller has finally retired. Performing his “last assist,” as Pacers president and CEO Donnie Walsh called it, Reggie gave the Pacers his blessing on a move that would take his contract, one he already retired from but that still counts against the luxury tax, off the books using the new bargaining agreement’s amnesty clause. In doing this the Pacers are free to keep all of the players they have, most importantly, Austin Croshere, a reserve forward with an outside shooting touch and a bloated contract. This move, in effect, keeps the Pacers frontcourt together, setting them up to make another run deep into the playoffs. It was Reggie Miller's last selfless move to help the franchise he was the face of for so many years.

However, lets say for a minute, that at some point during the next season, as the Pacers are dominating the Eastern Conference, Reggie Miller gets the urge to come back and play to earn that ring he never won. Because of the buyout of his contract under the amnesty clause, he won’t be able to come back to the Pacers until his contract with the Pacers would expire, leaving him free to sign with another team. Will Reggie really be able to sit the next one out? He’ll be able to sign with any team in the league, except the Pacers, at any point in the season.

Lets say it’s February and Reggie’s out golfing with Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing, contemporaries of his who never earned a ring. Lets say too that Reggie’s agent has been fielding some calls from the Heat, the Suns, the Pistons, the Spurs and well, everyone else in contention except the Pacers. They all want to know the same thing, “Would Reggie like to come back and make a few big shots and play a few big minutes for a team that could get him the ring?” Lets say right then, during his golf game, that his phone rings and its his agent with another offer from a team that’s won most of their games, is sitting high atop their division’s standings and has about 20 minutes a game for a sweet shooting veteran if he’s interested. What do you think Karl, Chuck and Pat are going to say “Don’t go back, hang around here and golf with us?” Those guys were all ultra competitive, they all went back for a little more after they slipped just to try to get a ring. It’s the ultimate symbol of success in the game and as many all-star games, MVP awards and other accolades that those guys have; the ring isn’t one of them. I bet they all say the same thing, “Reggie, get out of here, go sign with the best team and win a ring. Come back in a few months and show us how pretty it looks.” Michael Jordan couldn’t stay away from the game. What do you think he’ll tell Reggie when he asks him for advice? Michael spent a long time denying Reggie the chance to win a ring; I bet he says go for it.

While the Pacers have, without a doubt, helped their chances of winning next season by keeping Croshere, they may have opened a door they’re I’m sure they’ll regret. Imagine Reggie Miller in a Spurs uniform. Imagine Reggie Miller in a Heat uniform. Imagine Reggie Miller in a Bulls uniform, the uniform of one of his biggest archrivals. Imagine him in a Pistons uniform, the uniform of his other biggest archrival. I’ll bet its tough for Reggie Miller to imagine himself in a uniform that doesn’t say Indiana, but I bet its not as tough if he’s imagining the ring that might go along with it.