Chris Forsberg (ESPN) C's should get Shaq

[ssspence]

Isn’t Dampier still out there?

He hasn't been cut by Charlotte yet -- they have dreams of getting Chris Paul for him (yeah right... with what else, DJ Augustin?).

Once cut -- he would have been headed for Denver had they not spent so much on Al Harrington. Now i think he's strongly in play for the Cs.

[Jon]

My initial reaction was that we absolutely cannot use Wallace's deal to nab another big man.  However, if we do sign and trade for Shaq or if Wallace comes back, we could potentially explore trading Baby or Perk.  Both have reasonable deals and both are expiring next summer.  While that's not ideal, it would likely be the only way to nab a respectable wing if Wallace's deal goes off the table. 

[Evantime34]

Isn’t Dampier still out there?

He hasn't been cut by Charlotte yet -- they have dreams of getting Chris Paul for him (yeah right... with what else, DJ Augustin?).

Once cut -- he would have been headed for Denver had they not spent so much on Al Harrington. Now i think he's strongly in play for the Cs.

When they void his contract he'll have to sign a new contract and will probably be signed to a one year deal. This means that he'll be in a contract year. Which is great news, hey he might even actually try this year.

[Roy Hobbs]

My initial reaction was that we absolutely cannot use Wallace's deal to nab another big man.  However, if we do sign and trade for Shaq or if Wallace comes back, we could potentially explore trading Baby or Perk.  Both have reasonable deals and both are expiring next summer.  While that's not ideal, it would likely be the only way to nab a respectable wing if Wallace's deal goes off the table. 

I suppose in the short term we could try to grab one of Cleveland's excess wings in the deal, as well. 

Between Sheed, LaFayette, and Gaffney, we can take back about $9.9 million in salary.

Signing Shaq for $6 million leaves $3.9 million for one of Cleveland's wings.  That's enough for J. Moon or A. Parker.

[nickagneta]

I've been down with the Shaq idea from day 1... or as soon as Perkins went down with an injury and Sheed was leaning towards retirement.

Shaq can still give a very solid 20 MPG. Thats all we need.

Take back Moon and/or Parker as well, and we are all systems go.

Flip Cleveland the pupu platter (non guaranteed contracts, cash, first round pick). The Cavs save money and get a pick for parts they don't need.

How about Earl Barron & Wilson Chandler for Sheeds contract? NY is shopping Chandler. He'd be a good backup to Pierce & Barron solves our big man need.

shopping him doesn't mean they want to give him away for nothing.

They are shopping him under the pretext that whoever gets him has to take Eddie Curry off their hands. Tough pill to swallow there.

[nickagneta]

My initial reaction was that we absolutely cannot use Wallace's deal to nab another big man.  However, if we do sign and trade for Shaq or if Wallace comes back, we could potentially explore trading Baby or Perk.  Both have reasonable deals and both are expiring next summer.  While that's not ideal, it would likely be the only way to nab a respectable wing if Wallace's deal goes off the table. 

I really hate this idea. The idea of going into the post season hoping KG AND Jermaine O'Neal AND Shaq are all healthy and ready to compete at a high level scares the daylights out of me.

[Chris]

I've been down with the Shaq idea from day 1... or as soon as Perkins went down with an injury and Sheed was leaning towards retirement.

Shaq can still give a very solid 20 MPG. Thats all we need.

Take back Moon and/or Parker as well, and we are all systems go.

Flip Cleveland the pupu platter (non guaranteed contracts, cash, first round pick). The Cavs save money and get a pick for parts they don't need.

How about Earl Barron & Wilson Chandler for Sheeds contract? NY is shopping Chandler. He'd be a good backup to Pierce & Barron solves our big man need.

shopping him doesn't mean they want to give him away for nothing.

They are shopping him under the pretext that whoever gets him has to take Eddie Curry off their hands. Tough pill to swallow there.

I don't even know if its that.  I think they are trying to use him as a piece to get a better player.  I don't think they care as much about getting rid of Curry's contract right now, they want to turn Curry's contract into another star, and Chandler is one of the few assets they have remaining, since they have traded so many of their picks.

[Mr October]

My initial reaction was that we absolutely cannot use Wallace's deal to nab another big man.  However, if we do sign and trade for Shaq or if Wallace comes back, we could potentially explore trading Baby or Perk.  Both have reasonable deals and both are expiring next summer.  While that's not ideal, it would likely be the only way to nab a respectable wing if Wallace's deal goes off the table. 

I really hate this idea. The idea of going into the post season hoping KG AND Jermaine O'Neal AND Shaq are all healthy and ready to compete at a high level scares the daylights out of me.

You are right on there... Thats alot of old tired that need to be ready to run out of the gates.

[More Banners]

My initial reaction was that we absolutely cannot use Wallace's deal to nab another big man.  However, if we do sign and trade for Shaq or if Wallace comes back, we could potentially explore trading Baby or Perk.  Both have reasonable deals and both are expiring next summer.  While that's not ideal, it would likely be the only way to nab a respectable wing if Wallace's deal goes off the table. 

I really hate this idea. The idea of going into the post season hoping KG AND Jermaine O'Neal AND Shaq are all healthy and ready to compete at a high level scares the daylights out of me.

You are right on there... Thats alot of old tired that need to be ready to run out of the gates.

I think if we added Shaq (and/or T-Mac) to this roster, Eddie Lacerte would run off to Bali under cover of darkness.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd rather the C's get a wing before Shaq..the big "if" is my hope that J.O. will remain healthy, which I'm believing that he will.

Celtics with J.O. and Shaq? That's a lot of clutter in the middle, yes, but we still need someone on the wings. Ray and Pierce can do it for a while, but our biggest need right now, IMO, is a wing.

Shaq - if we can get you (and a solid wing), I'm all for it.

[Jon]

My initial reaction was that we absolutely cannot use Wallace's deal to nab another big man.  However, if we do sign and trade for Shaq or if Wallace comes back, we could potentially explore trading Baby or Perk.  Both have reasonable deals and both are expiring next summer.  While that's not ideal, it would likely be the only way to nab a respectable wing if Wallace's deal goes off the table. 

I really hate this idea. The idea of going into the post season hoping KG AND Jermaine O'Neal AND Shaq are all healthy and ready to compete at a high level scares the daylights out of me.

You are right on there... Thats alot of old tired that need to be ready to run out of the gates.

True.  That's why I'd prefer them to just trade Wallace for a wing.  

I also wouldn't hate Roy's idea.  While I still think I'd prefer Howard over Parker, Parker is a good shooter who could definitely fill it up off the bench.  With one of the O'Neals on the bench, plus Nate, Bradley, Parker, and BBD, the days of struggling to put the ball in the basket when the starters are on the bench would be over.  

[the_Bird]

I'm kind of liking the idea of doing a S&T for Shaq and Moon or Parker.  Shaq's close to done, we know that.  He's probably going to play one more season, then we'll have the lockout, and he'll be retired.  So, two-year deal at something just above the MLE, should be about what he's looking for.

Plenty of times in the finals when the C's offense bogged down in the halfcourt.  Times like that, it'd be real nice to call on the big fellow down low.  Even at his age, who on Miami is going to be able to slow down Shaq?  

Having Shaq would require some adjustments to how the team plays D.  Have to adjust to his not being able to move, not being able to switch.  But, I trust in Doc and Lawrence Frank to figure out a way to have him be effective on the defensive end.  You still aren't wanting to drive on him, he'll pick up fouls but you're going to FEEL them.

In the end...  I can't see him in Miami, he doesn't want to play for the minimum and I don't blame him.  He wants to win, he wants to beat Kobe and I have to believe that he'd love to help stop the Miami crew at least once.  He's shown that he can play a more limited role.  We wouldn't need him for more than 20 MPG.    Miami's weakness is going to be in the middle, having Perk and Shaq and KG and Jermaine O'Neil and Big Game Davis...   forget about how we match up with Miami, how do they deal with that size?

IF you can do this as a S&T and get a backup wing, I don't see many other possible trades with a better possible upside.  Moon or Parker to absorb some of Pierce and Ray's minutes, and Shaq to solidify the 5 spot and to give us a legitimate low-post option in the halfcourt.  

[Jon]

And while I don't love the Shaq/Parker idea, because it's not the upgrade I'd like at the 2/3; it does have some merits.  We could probably get by with Parker and Bradley or Parker and a minimum guy backing up Pierce and Allen if we had Shaq, Nate, and BBD playing next to them.  All three of those guys can put the ball in the basket, so we wouldn't necessarily need those two to be the big time scorer off the bench that we'd hope a guy like Howard would be. 

[Timdawgg]

This might work, Dan Gilbert might throw us a bone to get back at Lebron.

[nickagneta]

My main problem with a sign and trade for Shaq is that if he ends up not fitting in well, whether that be because of his personality and/or effect in the clubhouse or whether that be because he is a bad fit on the court, the sign and trade means we are acquiescing to his demands for more than $4 million a year for 2 years. If he doesn't fit in, everyone will know why and in trying to get rid of him we would get 10 cents on the dollar for his worth.

If we sign him to a veteran's minimum contract, which BTW is league subsidized so we would only be responsible for about half of his salary(or thereabouts), if he doesn't work out, cut him. The most you are going to have to spend on him is his yearly subsidized salary and the luxury tax money, which is minor.