"They may be getting on in years, but the aging veterans who rounded out this season's Miami Heat roster insist they are not the retiring types.

Not a single player who finished the season on the Heat roster has definitive retirement plans. In fact, even had the Heat won a championship instead of falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, they said they still did not plan to go out on top.

But that doesn't mean any of the roster's graybeards will necessarily return.

Most curious is the case of 33-year-old point guard Mike Bibby, who forfeited $6.4 million in a buyout from the Washington Wizards in order to finish the season with the Heat.

Sunday, Bibby, who had started in each of his previous 100 career playoff appearances, not only was removed from the starting lineup, but was benched for all of the 105-95 season-ending loss at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"I think I've still got years left," he said. "I'm still kind of young. I've got a lot of years in this league, but I'm definitely not thinking of retiring."

By contrast, forward Juwan Howard, at 38, not only played Sunday, but actually had a few productive moments in the Finals. He, too, said he plans to continue playing.

"I enjoy playing," he said. "Yes, sir, I plan to be back."

Whether the Heat have him back could be another issue."