Rich Steinlauf, an analyst who has been studying the NBA for three decades, devised a player-ranking model that puts a monetary value on each player in the NBA. Based on his system, a combination of statistics and Steinlauf’s careful observation of players’ games, Shaq was the third-best bargain this offseason. (Sports Illustrated)

3. Shaquille O’Neal. The Celtics will pay a veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million for a future Hall of Famer who can be expected to play like a $5.5 million player. “I had him as the second-best player for Cleveland in the Boston series last year,” Steinlauf said. “When you’re the second-leading scorer for your team in one of the marquee playoff series, you’re probably a pretty good player.”

It’d be great if Shaq turns out to be such a bargain, but the two biggest bargains belonged to the Heat (Lebron and D-Wade, duh) and the fourth-best belonged to the Lakers (Matt Barnes).

And is Shaq really worth $5.5 million? Umm, not if you ask Yahoo’s Kelly Dwyer: “O’Neal, at this point, is probably better off working as an entertainer of sorts than someone who should be hedging on Jr. on some random Wednesday in January.

“You saw those games last year. Shaq didn’t really look that bad. He looked like … Shaq. Big guy, one move, two pivots, two hands. To the naked eye, O’Neal looked like a late-30s version of himself. He looked like what you would expect.

“It’s just that all these raw stats tell you that the Cavs were so, so much better with O’Neal on the pine.”

And so the great Shaq debate continues. He’ll either single-handedly destroy the Celtics or he’ll be the third-best bargain in the NBA.

Related posts:

1. Shaq wants to be a Celtic: Should they want him?
2. Shaq, Redick likely headed elsewhere
3. Should Celtics give Shaq a longer look?
4. Scout: I don’t know who would take Shaq
5. Shaq on ESPN.com’s Worst Newcomer of the Year list

One Response to “Shaq third-best bargain in NBA, says league analyst”

1. keepitreal_dillpickle says:

   September 3, 2010 at 6:07 pm

   Come ON, Man.
   For a mere 1.4 mil, Shaq has to be the best all-around F/A acquisition this off-season.
   The excitement and the money that he is going to bring back to C’s basketball is unparalleled.
   D-Wade & “Bron cost very handsomely (what? about 15-18 mil each). And Shaq is easily the most universally liked and known brand name in the NBA (almost 20 yrs in the making)…movies, TV,Rapp music, you name it. For the Celtics to get his name on their Billboard this year for only 1.4 mil is the steal of the century.
   And God help us all if he should actually play some good Ball, an help them to a title. The revenue bells are going to ring off the hook.
   All for a measly chump-change of 1.4 mil. In big-time NBA basketball that’s like sofa cushion money.
   (And this guy that you’ve listed right next to him, Matt Barnes) Matt…who? You mean that guy who all but vanished last year as the C’s kicked the crap out of Orlando?
   Come ON, MAN!
   Keep it real.

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