If you had a choice: Brad Miller or ShaQ

[JSD]

I'd go with Shaq if I have to go with one...but I hope the celts go for Brandon Haywood rather than either of these two.  He's the best free agent center out there in my opinion (as long as you don't count Bosh as a center.)

Problem with Haywood, he would eat up more than 2 years commitment. Miller and Shaq can be aligned to expire with KG. I agree though, he's probably the best defensive center on the market.

[Jon]

The good news today is that Perk looks to miss only about a 1/3 of the season.  While it's significant, the late December projection means that assuming everyone else can stay injury free, signing either of these guys (or Ben Wallace) should suffice. 

It's all about the playoffs. 

[TerreHaute]

How about a Shaq/Ben Wallace combination? We would get low post scoring for the 2nd group, which would move BBD back  to the perimeter where he belongs. Wallace would give us defense and rebounding needed by the 1st unit until Perk returns.

[rav123]

I wouldn't get either for a portion  of the MLE. For a Vet Min contract, I'd go with Shaq by a hair. He was fairly effective pre-injury in Cleveland. He's still good for iso buckets (especially in crunch time) and drawing fouls (which our team needs). His defense is mediocre (okay man-to-man and basket protection balanced out by poor pick-n-roll, rotations).

Miller's defense is slightly better, but his offense is really horrible now (he shot more 3-pointers at a worse % than regular-season Sheed  )

[Eddie20]

At first I was thinking Miller, but after days mulling this over I say Shaq for a few reasons. First, he causes matchup problems. Take the Lakers for example. Gasol could take advantage of Miller offensively and yet not get exploited on the defensive end. The Lakers just wouldn't have been able to put Gasol on Shaq for more than a few minutes, if that. This would've forced Jackson to go with Bynum for long stretches, despite the knee issues, or go deeper down the bench. We also functioned best when Sheed was in the post and the offense, specifically that second unit, worked from inside out. Doc will have no problems begging Shaq to get in the post. Miller on the other hand just isn't that type of player. He's a face the basket spot up shooter. I think both are poor defenders at this stage in their career when covering the perimeter. However, Shaq is the one that could cause a matchup problem on the other end. Miller is a nice player, but he just doesn't have the offensive tools/physical attributes to give opposing centers problems.

And not a conspiracy type of guy, but how many favorable whistles do you think we would get during the playoffs vs. any non-LeBron led team? One would think Stern would salivate at the ratings a Celtics vs Lakers part 3 would generate along with a Shaq vs Kobe subplot.

[blake]

Shaq, because I would stop being a Celtics fan if Brad Miller was signed.  I really enjoy being fan, and would hate for it to end.

[Greenbean]

I hate both of them.

[paulball2007]

I'd choose neither unless they would take the vet minimum.  Only way I'd want either.  Nothing more then a role player playing about 15-20 min a game.  If both would be willing to accept the min I'd take Shaq.  Shaq would help with Dhoward in Orlando and the length of the lakers.  But we'd have to get that far for him to be effective. 

[Eddie20]

Shaq, because I would stop being a Celtics fan if Brad Miller was signed.  I really enjoy being fan, and would hate for it to end.

Are you serious? That's not being a real fan. Laimbeer, McFilthy, McNasty, etc. could have been Celtics and I would have welcomed them if they were in Green. Were you a fan before Danny made the KG trade?

[Mike-Dub]

Shaq, because I would stop being a Celtics fan if Brad Miller was signed.  I really enjoy being fan, and would hate for it to end.

Well if Brad Miller comes here good bye then!

[Mike-Dub]

I'd go with Shaq if I have to go with one...but I hope the celts go for Brandon Haywood rather than either of these two.  He's the best free agent center out there in my opinion (as long as you don't count Bosh as a center.)

Problem with Haywood, he would eat up more than 2 years commitment. Miller and Shaq can be aligned to expire with KG. I agree though, he's probably the best defensive center on the market.

Unfortunately you probably are right, even though I would love to bring Haywood in here.

[Overrated]

Shaq, by far and away.

Now I don't have my glasses from 2000 on, but the Cs need a big body down low, and obviously Shaq is just that. Brad Miller floating around the three-point line is not the answer to Perk's injury. They need a banger on the block, someone who can grab boards, and it doesn't even matter if Shaq can provide much offense. Perk didn't do much anyway offensively and the Cs were fine.

[birdwatcher]

I'd still take Miller, who can stretch the floor without having to take a three. If he's buys into that notion, 15-18 footers are high % shots for him. Just don't ask him to hit big threes like Sheed thought he could. I don't think Rondo or Pierce needs much more room to work if Miller could pull his man out to that 15 ft zone. Don't get me wrong, there's some good things about Shaq--my biggest beef is he can't stay on the floor. Why sign him to stand in for Perk if he may be right beside him on the bench by December? If he'd take a low salary so we have room to sign an additional "big by committee" or another SF/wing player, fine. I agree with those who say they'd want Brendan Haywood, but I would want him for more than two years. We got to have some pieces left after the big 3 are gone, and he's a reasonable guy to have on your roster. Problem is he'll probably want big money as he's one of the best centers left in free agency. And I still want David Lee...

[LooseCannon]

Let's re-phrase the question.  What if your choices are:
1) Shaq for the full MLE
2) Brad Miller somewhere between 50% and 60% of the MLE
3) A vet min player who is clearly inferior to Brad Miller

Who ya got?

[misha]

Let's re-phrase the question.  What if your choices are:
1) Shaq for the full MLE
2) Brad Miller somewhere between 50% and 60% of the MLE
3) A vet min player who is clearly inferior to Brad Miller

Who ya got?

Miller no doubt. Shaq is not worth full MLE in any case