Should Shaq go to ATL or BOS?

[MBunge]

Shaq wants money and playing time. I don't think Boston should offer him a ton of either.

We're already old and slow in our frontcourt. Adding Shaq to that mix would be iffy as is. I don't want to promise him 25 or so minutes when it'd be best for the team if he played 12-15.

I respectfully disagree.  Yes, we are old and slow, so let's play to our strength.  We are a very effecient team in the halfcourt, and Shaq would help with this.

Shaq could definitely get 20minutes on this team.  Outside of pick and roll defense, I think Shaq would be better than Perkins.  And he's definitely better than Jermaine O'Neal.  I would have no problem subbing O'neal in at PF at times too, and think that if anything Davis would be the odd man out.  I would absolutely love to watch that team

Totally agree.  I wouldn't mind Shaq at all.  I just hope we don't have to use Sheed's contract on him.  I want to use it to trade for a really good wing player.

It's been mentioned before, but it's worth mentioning again.

Anthony Parker might be considered unnecessary in Cleveland (especially if they smarten up and start cleaning house), and would be a helluva good fit here.  Hits the 3 at a very respectable clip.  Can fill in at the 2 or the 3.  Not a great player, but solid all-around guy.

So, ideal would be something like a $5-6M/yr, two-year deal for Shaq, sign-and-traded with Parker for 'Sheed's expiring contract, the two kids with the non-guaranteed contracts, and some kind of sweetener to make it worth Cleveland's while.  

The sweetener might be the tricky bit; we don't have much for attractive young players other than Big Game Davis and the rights to Avery Bradley.  

I'd have to think long and hard about giving up Davis and 'Sheed's contract for Shaq and Parker.  I love Davis, but a playoff rotation of KG/Perk/Shaq/JO is >>> KG/Perk/BGD/JO.  Parker >>> Matt Barnes or any of the other guys who are likely available.  No long-term money commitments, Parker's only a one-year, $3M deal (which is why you'd have to make it worth Cleveland's while to trade).  

That would make us a helluva improved team.  Enough bigs (maybe grab someone like Kurt Thomas for the first part of the year).  Parker as your backup wing, and re-sign Quis to be the fourth.  Nate's back; you could do a 1/2/3 rotation of Nate/Parker/Quis and have pretty complementary skillsets on the court.

Davis is a free agent at the end of the season, anyway.  May be come back.

EDIT: If Cleveland's smart, they'll be looking to use Parker's deal to start unloading crap like Boobie Gibson and his three years.  Might be able to absorb Gibson's deal, if necessary, by sign-and-trading either Scal or Quis back to Cleveland with a one-year contract (need to have at least one years' guaranteed money for a S&T to work).  Even though Cleveland wouldn't want/need either guy, it would be much better for them to pay Scal $4M for one year instead of Boobie Gibson $14M over the next three.  Think the math could be made to work.

I can't imagine Ainge being willing to take on Gibson's contract just to get Parker and I can't imagine Cleveland giving away Parker unless someone takes one of their long contracts along with it.  Shaq and Jamario Moon is a much more likely package and wouldn't probably require Davis in return.  Moon is still athletic enough to be productive, especially playing with Rondo.

Mike

[Spilling Green Dye]

I like you're idea, but there's no way I'd give up Baby for Shaq and Parker.

I definitely would.  Shaq alone would be worth it IMO, and getting Parker would help fill in a void that is projected to be awful if we don't address it soon.  

Consider this:  This is Davis' last year on his contract.  The Celtics contracts are setup so that almost all expire in the next 2 years.  Davis is not a starting PF.  Shaq on the other hand is a starting Center, and would fit in very well on this team.  In the Cleveland series, when Shaq was used properly, he completely outplayed both Davis and Perkins.  It was impressive, and that big body in the middle who can finish around the rim would open up a lot of things for Ray, etc.

If we could do it w/o trading Davis then I'd love it.  But if push came to shove, I'd trade him in that deal.

[manl_lui]

I like you're idea, but there's no way I'd give up Baby for Shaq and Parker.

I definitely would.  Shaq alone would be worth it IMO, and getting Parker would help fill in a void that is projected to be awful if we don't address it soon.  

Consider this:  This is Davis' last year on his contract.  The Celtics contracts are setup so that almost all expire in the next 2 years.  Davis is not a starting PF.  Shaq on the other hand is a starting Center, and would fit in very well on this team.  In the Cleveland series, when Shaq was used properly, he completely outplayed both Davis and Perkins.  It was impressive, and that big body in the middle who can finish around the rim would open up a lot of things for Ray, etc.

If we could do it w/o trading Davis then I'd love it.  But if push came to shove, I'd trade him in that deal.

my thoughts exactly, against smaller and weaker bigs, shaq can draw many double teams (probably not against Orlando and Lakers) but against other teams with no bigs, ie: Atlanta, etc...we will just dominate in the paint, and if he gets double teamed, Ray and PP will be open...or KG depending on who doubles him...and all of us can shoot