McDyess leaning towards retirement

After a great regular season run, and another disappointing first-round playoff exit, the San Antonio Spurs expects some roster changes heading into the next season.

With a lockout looming over the NBA after the end of the playoffs, this could be the last season of Spurs big man Antonio McDyess.

McDyess has played 15 seasons in the NBA, two with the Spurs.

Tim Griffin of Spurs Nation shares this report of McDyess possible retirement at the end of this season.

“Antonio McDyess is probably leaning towards retirement, from what he said. We’re not going to fight him,” Popovich said. “He’s going to make his own decision. If he does retire, as much as a player, we would miss him more as a person.

“He’s one of the finest human beings I’ve ever been associated with. He commands huge, huge buckets of respect from his teammates, just from the way he conducts himself. He’s just a wonderful man. So if he does retire, we’ll really miss him in that leadership role.”

Tim Duncan is also a question mark, particularly if there should be an extended work stoppage with the lockout. But Popovich said he expects Duncan will be back. Another factor is that Duncan will be in line for the biggest annual salary of his career at $21 million next year.

“I don’t see why he wouldn’t,” Popovich said. “I haven’t talked to him about the next few years or what he plans on doing.”