http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/spears_marc/1514782.html <img src="http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/nba/2001/1222/photo/a_malone_i.jpg"> Malone will give free agency the ol’ college try -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Marc J. Spears Special to ESPN.com SALT LAKE CITY -- Soon-to-be 40-year-old Karl Malone is approaching free agency with the same enthusiasm as an 18-year-old piquing the interest of a Duke, Kentucky or Arizona. "The way I look at it now is like how it was when you're a superstar in high school and the colleges are coming (after) you," Malone said. "It's kind of fun. It's kind of like that. We're standing at age 40, but you know my agent will handle that and I'll enjoy my summer." "No matter what a guy says, he still wants to have that feeling that you're wanted," he added. "At age 40, it's somewhat exciting for me. It's not about playing games, but it's exciting." If he had to sign a letter of intent, Malone would only consider putting pen to paper with a winning program. Yes, the future Hall of Famer is still contemplating retirement at season's end. But with a strong thirst for a championship ring, the right title-contending team may be able coerce the still productive old-timer to play the post. Entering the season, Malone mentioned that he was beginning to feel his age. But now, the 18-year NBA veteran feels somewhat reborn and has enjoyed being part of the surprising Jazz. His statistics are still impressive, too, with averages of 20.6 points and 8.1 rebounds in 36.5 minutes per game. When free agency talk is brought up, names like Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Michael Olowokandi, Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Gilbert Arenas are mentioned. But Malone? Because of his age and potential retirement and assumptions that he would finish his career in Utah, "The Mailman" is usually an after thought. Plus, with a $19 million salary in hand this season in the final year of his contract, the notion is that he would be quite expensive, too, and not many teams would have the money to pay him. But money isn't a thing to Malone if the right situation presented itself. Imagine a frontcourt of Malone and Shaquille O'Neal with the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been searching for a power forward for a long time. How about Malone and Duncan in the post together in San Antonio? Or Malone in Motown adding some scoring to the Detroit Pistons or playing in Milwaukee with GP? With exception to San Antonio, those teams will probably only be able to offer the mid-level exception, which will be in the $4.5 million range. Signing a mid-level deal would be a major pay cut for Malone. But if he believes that there is a good chance he could win an NBA title, the amount of zeros on the paycheck wouldn't matter. "I don't think the money will be an issue to me," Malone said. "I've taken care of myself and invested wisely. I've invested in things that I want to do, and if I can't play no more, I don't think that will be an issue. Really. "Some things will have to fall into the perfect spot. But money won't be an issue. It really won't. Money won't be an issue. If that is what plays out, money won't be an issue." No Stockton and Malone? No Mailman in Mormon Country? That definitely sounds odd. But if that ends up being the case, Malone couldn't be begrudged for going for a ring after all the sweet music he played for the Jazz. "You think about it all the time," Malone said. "I didn't get (a championship) in college. But I got three state championships in high school. I put a lot of time and dedication into it, and I haven't got it here (in the NBA). You think about a lot of things. I hope people respect whatever decision I decide to make this summer because I do feel like I've given 17, 18 years to everybody else. "So if I do choose a year or two to do that for me, I hope they respect that. I'm not going to rush into anything. I am going to wait and see what happens because to me it's kind of exciting." The Jazz definitely would love for Malone to end his career in the place he started it. And Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor is going to try to do his best to make staying pat attractive for Malone. Even so, O'Connor does have compassion for Malone's title dreams. "We will sit down with Karl after the season," O'Connor said. "I think it's such an unusual situation. (Jazz owner) Larry Miller and Karl will sit down and not only try to consider what's best for Karl, but for us. "So are we fearful? You're always fearful about losing a big-time player. If that's what Karl's motive is, maybe we can try to put together a team that can do that. He's earned the right to be a free agent." Will Malone continue to play in Utah? Will he play somewhere else for a ring? Will he just retire and just play for the United States during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico in August? Until free agency arrives on July 1, Malone plans on keeping the suspense alive. "I want to do it fairly quickly," said Malone of making a decision. "I want to have time to prepare and they (the Jazz) will want to have time to prepare on what they want to do. I think we're just going to wait and see what plays out and go from there." Malone already has two gold medals from his tenure with the original Dream Team in 1992 and says he is excited about getting a third in the Olympics' first home of Athens. "I'll be 41 years old (in 2004)," he said. "How many 41-year-olds have the opportunity to win a gold medal." Marc J. Spears, who covers the Denver Nuggets for the Denver Post, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
