Heat's Haslem on future: 'I feel like I could go three or four more years'

At 35 years of age and with 12 years of basketball wear and tear on his body, it's not silly to imagine Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem wanting to hang up his sneakers for good in the not-too-distant future.

But that doesn't appear to be the case, because as Haslem tells Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post, he still has a lot of game left in him.

“I feel pretty durable,” Haslem said. “I just make sure to keep myself ready and give myself a chance to play this game.

“I feel fine. I feel like I could go three or four more years depending on how Coach might need to use me or what the situation might be. When I was needed to go out there and play big minutes, I was able to put up some pretty decent numbers. If these guys need me, I’ve gotta make sure I stay ready.”

In 62 games last season, Haslem averaged 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 points on 44.8 percent shooting with 25 starts.

Buried on the depth chart behind a slew of credible frontcourt options in Chris Bosh, Hassan Whiteside, Chris Andersen, Josh McRoberts, and the newly-signed Amar'e Stoudemire, Haslem will likely see his role reduced even further to merely an emergency big. Considering the injury history of some of the players slotted in front of him, that's not the worst spot to be in.

“I still love to compete, and that’s never going to change,” he said. “I love strapping it on, tying my shoes and getting out there and challenging other people and getting challenged. As long as I’ve got the will to compete and I’m not hurting these guys, I’m going to compete.”

The former Florida Gator has one year left on his contract at $2.9 million, and his future with the Heat beyond the upcoming season remains a mystery. It's hard to imagine Miami not making a noble effort to re-sign a player who's not only been around for more than a decade, but is beloved by teammates and fans alike.