Celtics close to signing Shaquille O’Neal
"Get off me, son."
The Celtics are close to signing Shaq Diesel. (A. Sherrod Blakely)
For weeks, free agent Shaquille O’Neal has made no secret about wanting to play for the Boston Celtics while the C’s have made it clear that they wanted to add at least one more big man to the mix.
It appears both sides are close to getting what they want.
CSNNE.com has learned that the C’s are “close” to bringing the 15-time All-Star to Boston, which would give the C’s one of the deepest frontcourts in the NBA this session.
As I said earlier today, Boston was the best fit for Shaq. I just didn’t know it would happen so quickly.
I still have a lot of questions about how Shaq fits in. Will he accept backing up Jermaine O’Neal to begin the season? Later in the season, will he accept backing up both Perk and Jermaine?
Update from David Aldridge, NBA.com:
The Celtics, the source said, have told O’Neal that he has to come off the bench next season, and that O’Neal said he could accept a reserve role for the first time in his career. The three-time Finals MVP has not had many suitors this summer that had either the playing time or money to offer him, and O’Neal is running out of places that can give him a chance to compete for a championship as his career draws to a close.
Can he learn how to play pick-and-roll defense? Will he again cause Kobe to taste his ass?
But, questions or not, the Celtics needed another big man. It looks like they’ll soon have one. And Shaq’s willingness to even sign in Boston shows how serious he is about winning another championship. He didn’t come to Boston to pad his stats, I’ll tell you that much. He wants another ring. Or two. And, in Boston, he’ll have that chance. Let’s just hope he’s willing to do whatever it takes, to sacrifice whatever he needs to, to make it happen. Banner 18, son. It’s a movement.
Update #2, from @PDCavsInsider (Brian Windhorst):
Comcast Boston reports Celtics close to a contract with Shaq. According to sources, Cavs are not involved in sign-and-trade talks w/Celtics
So if Shaq goes to Boston, it is likely going to be on a veteran’s minimum contract of $1.4 million.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | August 3, 2010
Boston Celtics, Jermaine O'Neal, Kendrick Perkins, shaq, Shaquille O'Neal
======D big boner
Weren’t his numbers were better then J.Os last year, i wouldn’t be surprised if he starts over J.O to start the season… either way , wow the big Aristotle in Boston??? with KG Ray ray P.P if someone said that 5-6 years ago , you’d also think there was a chance for a black president.
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well played sir, I see what you did there
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Offensive numbers were similar. Defensively, it’s not even close. Shaq can’t guard the pick and roll, and aspect of the Celtics help defense which is vital.
He’s good for certain situations, but a 30 minutes guy he is not.
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Hahahah.
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he should start over jermaine—shaq and KG will complement each other better—and jermaine could be brought in for either of them and play with Glen davis—-Shaq and jermaine will play the same amount of minutes—16-25—the big rotation will be best in NBA—now lets go get Rudy
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Um, no. JO is a much better defender, and has a legit mid-range game.
Shaq has matchup potential against teams that can’t guard size (*Cough* Atlanta *Cough*) and are forced to doule him, or foul. But he’s not an everyday starter, no chance.
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(*Cough* Miami *Cough* too)
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I don’t know if I’d start him. I like the thought of Shaq coming off the bench and changing the game with his low-post scoring. He wouldn’t get as many touches in the starting unit, but with the second unit he could put that low-post scoring to good use.
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And he’ll have shooters around him with Wafer, Robinson, or even Davis on the floor.
Davis used to have a great 15-18fter, and showed flashes of getting it back.
Robinson and Wafer can be deadly from long range. All viable shooting options if teams double Shaq. Or he hits Daniels on a cut. I like the possibilities.
Old as he may be, there are still very few teams that can play him 1v1 and not double. And he’s joining one of the ones that could.
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Davis will have to change his role again. He’s going to have to do a lot more of the mid-range game. It’s a good thing he’s versatile, because the Celtics make him switch his role all the time.
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Good point but i think KG will play better with shaq then jermaine, b/c shaq will get more consistent low post postition, jermaine likes to float alot like KG, defensivly jermaine is better but shaq will fit in fine as the anchor and a post defender vs better teams—
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I still just can’t wait to see Shaq put Kobe on his ass. Gonna be a great day.
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plain and simple, the Celtics know Perkins ACL reconstruction means he won’t be back until mid March at the earliest. Particular with basketball players, the docs at NE Baptist aren’t going to clear him before 8 months….you’re otherwise a potential ticking time bomb (like Wes Welker is today going back to full practice at about 5.5 months post surgery) You therefore need two big men for nearly the entire regular season. A necessary signing, period.
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Perfectly put.
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HELL YAH
Danny Ange THANK YOU!!!
when we lost i thought it was over and now we still have ray and pp AND the 2 O’Neals what else could you ask of the man?
off-season ranking A+(++)
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Off season beer goggles ranking A+(++)
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What ranking do you give it without the beer goggles, Jay P? Seems to me it’s been as good of an offseason as can be expected. Although, of course, we’ll have to wait to see how the season plays out before we really amke our judgements.
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I’m with you. They re-signed the major guys, picked up two quality big men, signed Von Wafer and re-signed Nate, kept Marquis for potential redemption, are still in play for Rudy Fernandez and still have Rasheed’s contract to go after people. I’d say the offseason has been an absolute home run.
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I was just having some fun with matt. I don’t have any problem with the off-season moves.
Considering Danny was able to put the band back together, and still give the team long term flexibility to build around Rondo in 2012, I give the offseason so far a solid B.
If he somehow manages to hit a home run with Sheed’s contract either now, it’ll definitely be an A.
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Or even a double.
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Oh please DA get this done!!! Go Cs…
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Like the move, but I’ll wait till it gets official before smilin from ear to ear
Meantime, if Shaq signs for a minimum contract, it means Sheed’s still a member of the squad, but with Big Daddy in the roster it seems more than likely he’ll actually retire.
That being said, Sheed filing the retirement papers would free another roster spot for the C’s even after Shaq’s potential joining in. Will DA pull another bunny outta his magician hat and get us Rudy for Lafayette and a draft pick?
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If Ainge gets Rudy, then they still have Sheed’s contract to acquire someone else, this offseason will have officially been insane.
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wowwwww Im so excited for next year after being very numb towards the Celtics for quite a while I love this bench and I like shaq with the second unit, because he could clog things up if he was on with the 1st team. He can still produce very well offensively and with this second unit I think he will. Signing him for the minimum would be HUGE!!! We could possibly add more depth to this already stacked bench and add another key player with Sheed’s contract, who knows maybe we even sign D West and save Sheed’s contract for later in the year at the deadline. LETS GO C’S!
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No way they save Sheed’s contract for later in the year I don’t think. That would mean they’d have to pay him in the meantime. I think they’ll use it before the season starts.
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lets just get west than maybe sign gaffey or trade sheed 4 some other SF like ramonovic webster wright or maybe james posey any one?
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I’d like Webster.
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No way we get Webster (I’m assuming we’re talking about Martell?) because he was just traded from Portland to Minnesota at the beginning of the offseason. Keep dreaming though…
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Since they were under the cap when the trade occurred (and still are) the Wolves could still trade Webster (I’m almost positive). Not that they would or that the Celtics are interested or that I think it’s anything more than the most remote of possibilities. Just they could.
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Providing Harangody signs a contract with the C’s, we’d have 15 players under contract including Shaq and Wallace.
Given that we couldn’t trade Sheed for Rudy for salary cap matters, it seems to me Wallace would have to file for retirement for DA to either trade for Rudy or sign Delonte.
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They could include Lafayette or Gaffney in the trade or cut either one of them. Their contracts are non-guaranteed.
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