Why did Jermaine O'neal sign with the Celtics?

[Doctor Doublechin]

If I were him, I'd definitely stayed with the Heat. They are paper-thin at the 5 and he could have got way more money from the Heat also. (If I'm right about the Heat owning his Bird rights.) I'm sure Jermaine knew that Miami has loads of cap space, so he could figure that the team will get a huge boost and will probably be a championship contender. (Even if noone was sure about LeBron.) Did he join the Celtics, because he was humiliated by Perk in the playoffs? (If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.) Or did he want to join a contender and he wasn't sure Miami would be one? Chemistry-issues, maybe? Lastly, could he have got more than the MLE from a non-contender? To be honest, I kind of doubt that...

[Roy H.]

You're incorrect about the Heat owning his Bird rights.  To create cap space, the Heat had to "renounce" him as a free agent, meaning they gave up his Bird rights.  That cleared a HUGE cap hold that his rights were creating against the Heat's cap.

To stay with the Heat, J.O. probably would have had to take less money, as the Heat could have only re-signed him with any remaining cap room that they had.

Here's what Jermaine said about why he signed here:

"I knew what [the Heat] were trying to do, and I could have re-signed back with those guys," he said Wednesday after passing his physical with the Celtics. "But it comes down to fit. It comes down to personalities and style of play, and I thought Boston has all that for me. It came down to winning now, and not worrying about chemistry."

"[Rasheed Wallace] had a lot of great things to say about the organization," O'Neal said. "That was kind of the selling point too -- him coming in and him actually being here for a year and understanding the situation, the scenario, the chemistry.

[GreenFaith1819]

IMO, I don't think MIA intended on bringing him back. He is an offensive-capable center, with a few actual moves and a decent mid-range J.

I think he would've had less shot opportunities there with Bosh down low if he stayed. The pecking order in MIA now goes Lebron or Wade, Bosh, and then everyone else.

As for why he signed with us? He saw an opportunity here, with Perk being hurt. Danny saw a decent offensive and defensive center who had solid games against Dwight and Gasol/Bynum. Danny also saw that J.O had a rather productive (and injury-free) season in 09-10.

He can also spell the 4 or 5 spots, which will help KG and Glen as well. And you can't top the fact that he's another 6'11" guy.

[GreenFaith1819]

IMO, I don't think MIA intended on bringing him back. He is an offensive-capable center, with a few actual moves and a decent mid-range J.

I think he would've had less shot opportunities there with Bosh down low if he stayed. The pecking order in MIA now goes Lebron or Wade, Bosh, and then everyone else.

As for why he signed with us? He saw an opportunity here, with Perk being hurt. Danny saw a decent offensive and defensive center who had solid games against Dwight and Gasol/Bynum. Danny also saw that J.O had a rather productive (and injury-free) season in 09-10.

He can also spell the 4 or 5 spots, which will help KG and Glen as well. And you can't top the fact that he's another 6'11" guy.

And what Roy said

[Doctor Doublechin]

Thanks for the info, guys.

[moiso]

I think Miami wanted to keep JO about as much as Toronto did.  He did nothing to help the team when it mattered.

[Fafnir]

The most money he was getting offered was the MLE at two years. I think the Celtics were the best team that offered him that and a starting role.