Jermaine O’Neal to Celtics “almost a done deal”
J.O., son.
Jermaine O’Neal signing with the Boston Celtics is “almost a done deal,” according to Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald. No contract discussion was included in Wallace’s tweets.
Go ahead and nix any thoughts of a Bosh-J. O’Neal frontcourt reunion. O’Neal to Boston is almost a done deal. Bank on it.
I’m all aboard the J-train. I like O’Neal better than any other big mentioned in talks with the Celtics, regardless of O’Neal playing like a paralyzed schoolgirl in the first round of the playoffs. With apologies to all the paralyzed schoolgirls out there.
O’Neal can start while Perkins is injured, then bring his rebounding, shot-blocking and solid mid-range game to the bench when Perk comes back. Never mind that O’Neal has lost a step or two (or three); he can still help a ball-club win games.
I don’t think I could be happier with this signing. Actually, I would be if I hadn’t read the following tweet: (A. Sherrod Blakely)
“I wouldn’t mind having him on our team, I can tell you that,” Rivers said of Kwame Brown. “He could help us.”
But don’t worry guys: I’m pretty sure all the Kwame Brown stuff is just a practical joke.
P.S. – I’m starting to get really excited about this offseason’s potential. If the C’s… make it official with J.O. for a portion of the mid-level (as it’s rumored); the C’s spend the rest of the mid-level on a cheap but solid vet (Kyle Korver or Rasual Butler, anyone?); ship Rasheed Wallace’s retiring contract for a contributor (Leandro Barbosa?); then re-sign Tony Allen, the Celtics will have the following lineup:
PG: Rajon Rondo, Leandro Barbosa, Avery Bradley
SG: Ray Allen, Tony Allen
SF: Paul Pierce, Rasual Butler
PF: Kevin Garnett, Big Baby, Luke Harangody
C: Kendrick Perkins (injured), Jermaine O’Neal
I really like that lineup. Throw in a solid veteran’s minimum pickup or two and the C’s have a legitimate, legitimate 12-man rotation. Things might seriously be falling into place, as long as Ray gets his head on straight and comes back.
Update: Well, I got my wish. Ray’s back.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | July 7, 2010
Boston Celtics, Jermaine O'Neal, Kendrick Perkins, Kwame Brown
oh no not Butler :S but I definitely like how this is looking
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I’d rather get Rudy Fernandez than Butler. Good pickup if JO signs on. Go get some more help. Go Cs….
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I like Fernandez too, but I read Fernandez to the Heat is a more likely deal.
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Sweet. With O’Neal on the fold we’ve got our own twin towers.
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Wait til they sign Kwame Brown! Then it’s the Tri-Towers! On second thought, I hope Kwame stays as far away from Boston as possible.
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I wouldn’t mind Kwame Brown backing up the back up, he can’t be much worse than Sheldon Williams could he? Maybe I don’t understand the epicness of his suck.
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His suck is pretty epic. Beyond epic, one would say. He catches a basketball about as well as a brick wall.
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He’s lousy, but I still have to believe he has potential. There was a reason he went #1 overall, someone saw something there.
Maybe, just maybe the right coaching, and the right leadership (KG, Doc, Cliff Ray) can finally get him to realize some of it.
I still think it’s worth a shot.
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He’s had some pretty damn good coaches (Phil Jackson comes to mind). It’s not happening for Kwame, no matter how many chances he gets. The potential has always been there, but he’s never going to reach it.
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