Mike Miller to Consider Retirement During the Offseason

Should offseason back surgery push Mike Miller to retire from the NBA, he’ll have gone out in style. To say the least. Per the Miami Herald: “Miller has arguably the toughest decision to make of any Heat player in the coming weeks. His bad back, which isn’t the only reason he missed 68 regular-season games during the past two seasons (foot, thumb, shoulder, ankle, hernia), will likely require surgery. He said Monday the odds he will go under the knife are ‘better than 50-50.’ Miller said Monday he will see a doctor about his back later this week. If he doesn’t need the surgery, he said he’s definitely interested in returning to the Heat, which still owes him $18.6 million guaranteed for the next three seasons years. If he needs surgery, retirement is a possibility. ‘It will be hard to walk away,’ Miller said. ‘But I have to make a good decision. I want to be able to play with my kids.’ Although he started just two regular-season games and averaged 19.3 minutes a game this past season, Miller improved his three-point percentage dramatically, shooting 45.3 percent (up from 36.4 percent the previous season). In the playoffs, he was 31 of 75 from three-point range (41.3 percent) and averaged 16 minutes a game. The Heat considered using its amnesty clause last winter to dump Miller’s contract, but ultimately decided against it. There’s a chance the Heat could use it next season if Miller decides not to retire. ‘I remember texting Coach [Pat] Riley and saying thanks for not taking me behind the barn and putting me to sleep,’ Miller said. ‘I still got something left in me.’”