Report: Jermaine O'Neal agrees to sign with the Celts (update on page 11)

[CelticsWhat35]

There is no way JO is putting up 14 and 7 next year.  Not on the Celtics, or any other team.

[housecall]

In a limited role i think JO would work for the C's...but if he has to be the starter for the whole season then it becomes a higher risk for some injuries.He seems to break down somehow when playing big minutes.As a backup eventually i would approve,given the other options to choose from.

[Drucci]

Latest update on Wojnarowski's "free agent buzz" about Jermaine :

O’Neal still had plans late Wednesday to talk with a couple of Celtics players about family issues, such as schools and areas to live.

O'Neal will announce his decision today but it looks like he has chosen Boston. Now it remains to be seen if Danny used (or will use) the entire MLE on JO.

[Mike-Dub]

O'Neal will announce his decision today but it looks like he has chosen Boston. Now it remains to be seen if Danny used (or will use) the entire MLE on JO.

It better be only be part of the MLE.  JO is definitely not a full MLE type player.

[banks336]

I definitely don't want JO for the whole MLE.  A small portion of it, or the vet min (which is highly unlikely to happen), is all I would offer him. He is definitely not worth more than even half of the MLE.

I recall what your talking about with Aaron mckie & K.V.H. But those two players were already retired but LA and Dallas still had their rights if I'm not mistaking.

[Mike-Dub]

I definitely don't want JO for the whole MLE.  A small portion of it, or the vet min (which is highly unlikely to happen), is all I would offer him. He is definitely not worth more than even half of the MLE.

I recall what your talking about with Aaron mckie & K.V.H. But those two players were already retired but LA and Dallas still had their rights if I'm not mistaking.

I never was talking about those guys. That was Roy.

[Roy Hobbs]

All you JO haters out there who would you rather have? Shaq, Brad Miller?

Be realistic with what we have to work with. J. O'Neal is a great addition for some of the MLE.

Some people would complain if they got LJ for MLE so you have to understand that.

They guy averaged 14/7 last year.  If we even get that out of him he's an upgrade over our starter from last year.  I'll be quite happy if DA can get him in here.

Offensively he'd be an upgrade if we get 14 and 7 out of him.  He is definitely not an upgrade on the defensive end though and rebounding.

Along with that he wouldn't be averaging 14 points on our squad because he would be the fifth option.

I think you may be underrating J.O.'s defense.  He's an above average defensive player, and he has the length to block and change shots.  He's also an okay rebounder, and certainly better than Brad Miller.

He's not a better defender and upgrade than Perk period end of discussion.

Of course he's not.  However, he's an upgrade over what we have on our bench right now, and he's a better all-around player than Brad Miller (and a better defender, as well.)  He's also a better pick-and-roll / team defender than Shaq.  (In terms of man defense on the block, Shaq is better due to his size.)

[Jon]

O'Neal will announce his decision today but it looks like he has chosen Boston. Now it remains to be seen if Danny used (or will use) the entire MLE on JO.

It better be only be part of the MLE.  JO is definitely not a full MLE type player.

While I'd like to believe that, he's also a legitimate NBA Center who has been an All Star 6 times and started on the #5 seed in the East.  Considering what far bigger stiffs than Jermaine get, he may indeed take the whole MLE. 

[Mike-Dub]

All you JO haters out there who would you rather have? Shaq, Brad Miller?

Be realistic with what we have to work with. J. O'Neal is a great addition for some of the MLE.

Some people would complain if they got LJ for MLE so you have to understand that.

They guy averaged 14/7 last year.  If we even get that out of him he's an upgrade over our starter from last year.  I'll be quite happy if DA can get him in here.

Offensively he'd be an upgrade if we get 14 and 7 out of him.  He is definitely not an upgrade on the defensive end though and rebounding.

Along with that he wouldn't be averaging 14 points on our squad because he would be the fifth option.

I think you may be underrating J.O.'s defense.  He's an above average defensive player, and he has the length to block and change shots.  He's also an okay rebounder, and certainly better than Brad Miller.

He's not a better defender and upgrade than Perk period end of discussion.

Of course he's not.  However, he's an upgrade over what we have on our bench right now, and he's a better all-around player than Brad Miller (and a better defender, as well.)  He's also a better pick-and-roll / team defender than Shaq.  (In terms of man defense on the block, Shaq is better due to his size.)

You're probably right, he probably is better than Shaq and Brad Miller, but after what I saw from the guy against us last post-season, a guy who didn't want to be out there and just got man handled I don't want him on our squad.  I don't think the guy cares about the game of basketball and think he is done.  The sad thing is he is still probably a better option than Brad Miller and Shaq that is how limited our options are.

I really want Brendan Haywood, but he's going to get more than the MLE.

[Jon]

All you JO haters out there who would you rather have? Shaq, Brad Miller?

Be realistic with what we have to work with. J. O'Neal is a great addition for some of the MLE.

Some people would complain if they got LJ for MLE so you have to understand that.

They guy averaged 14/7 last year.  If we even get that out of him he's an upgrade over our starter from last year.  I'll be quite happy if DA can get him in here.

Offensively he'd be an upgrade if we get 14 and 7 out of him.  He is definitely not an upgrade on the defensive end though and rebounding.

Along with that he wouldn't be averaging 14 points on our squad because he would be the fifth option.

I think you may be underrating J.O.'s defense.  He's an above average defensive player, and he has the length to block and change shots.  He's also an okay rebounder, and certainly better than Brad Miller.

He's not a better defender and upgrade than Perk period end of discussion.

Of course he's not.  However, he's an upgrade over what we have on our bench right now, and he's a better all-around player than Brad Miller (and a better defender, as well.)  He's also a better pick-and-roll / team defender than Shaq.  (In terms of man defense on the block, Shaq is better due to his size.)

You're probably right, he probably is better than Shaq and Brad Miller, but after what I saw from the guy against us last post-season, a guy who didn't want to be out there and just got man handled I don't want him on our squad.  I don't think the guy cares about the game of basketball and think he is done.  The sad thing is he is still probably a better option than Brad Miller and Shaq that is how limited our options are.

I really want Brendan Haywood, but he's going to get more than the MLE.

Maybe.  But come playoff time, he'd hopefully be back to a reduced role, filling Rasheed's shoes and not Perk's.  And he'd make a pretty darn good 3rd or 4th big. 

[banks336]

JO's an OLD 31...  his body's got a lot of wear and tear on it.

31 with a 51 year old body.

You can say the same for Shaq and KG but all it takes is one offseason of hard work to take care of your body, this is JO's first or 2nd free agency so I'm sure he's been working out and trying to get his body in the best shape... If he looks at the big picture and sees this is the best team he has ever played on, and decides to mainly play in the post should light a fire under him.. I'm really optimistic about this potential signing when you look at the last 20 games of the regular season he played in before he got hurt. He's 31 people.. That's all I can say, T-Mac is who I'm thinking a lot of people are seeing him as but he's not.  

[hpantazo]

All you JO haters out there who would you rather have? Shaq, Brad Miller?

Be realistic with what we have to work with. J. O'Neal is a great addition for some of the MLE.

Some people would complain if they got LJ for MLE so you have to understand that.

They guy averaged 14/7 last year.  If we even get that out of him he's an upgrade over our starter from last year.  I'll be quite happy if DA can get him in here.

Offensively he'd be an upgrade if we get 14 and 7 out of him.  He is definitely not an upgrade on the defensive end though and rebounding.

Along with that he wouldn't be averaging 14 points on our squad because he would be the fifth option.

I think you may be underrating J.O.'s defense.  He's an above average defensive player, and he has the length to block and change shots.  He's also an okay rebounder, and certainly better than Brad Miller.

He's not a better defender and upgrade than Perk period end of discussion.

Of course he's not.  However, he's an upgrade over what we have on our bench right now, and he's a better all-around player than Brad Miller (and a better defender, as well.)  He's also a better pick-and-roll / team defender than Shaq.  (In terms of man defense on the block, Shaq is better due to his size.)

you've got me convinced Roy. I was originally against it but I really hope we sign him up now.

[Mike-Dub]

All you JO haters out there who would you rather have? Shaq, Brad Miller?

Be realistic with what we have to work with. J. O'Neal is a great addition for some of the MLE.

Some people would complain if they got LJ for MLE so you have to understand that.

They guy averaged 14/7 last year.  If we even get that out of him he's an upgrade over our starter from last year.  I'll be quite happy if DA can get him in here.

Offensively he'd be an upgrade if we get 14 and 7 out of him.  He is definitely not an upgrade on the defensive end though and rebounding.

Along with that he wouldn't be averaging 14 points on our squad because he would be the fifth option.

I think you may be underrating J.O.'s defense.  He's an above average defensive player, and he has the length to block and change shots.  He's also an okay rebounder, and certainly better than Brad Miller.

He's not a better defender and upgrade than Perk period end of discussion.

Of course he's not.  However, he's an upgrade over what we have on our bench right now, and he's a better all-around player than Brad Miller (and a better defender, as well.)  He's also a better pick-and-roll / team defender than Shaq.  (In terms of man defense on the block, Shaq is better due to his size.)

You're probably right, he probably is better than Shaq and Brad Miller, but after what I saw from the guy against us last post-season, a guy who didn't want to be out there and just got man handled I don't want him on our squad.  I don't think the guy cares about the game of basketball and think he is done.  The sad thing is he is still probably a better option than Brad Miller and Shaq that is how limited our options are.

I really want Brendan Haywood, but he's going to get more than the MLE.

Maybe.  But come playoff time, he'd hopefully be back to a reduced role, filling Rasheed's shoes and not Perk's.  And he'd make a pretty darn good 3rd or 4th big. 

That's true, but I'd rather have someone better than him in Perks roll for the first half and change of the season, but I don't think, unfortunately, that we can get anybody better than JO with how strapped financially we are.

[Roy Hobbs]

All you JO haters out there who would you rather have? Shaq, Brad Miller?

Be realistic with what we have to work with. J. O'Neal is a great addition for some of the MLE.

Some people would complain if they got LJ for MLE so you have to understand that.

They guy averaged 14/7 last year.  If we even get that out of him he's an upgrade over our starter from last year.  I'll be quite happy if DA can get him in here.

Offensively he'd be an upgrade if we get 14 and 7 out of him.  He is definitely not an upgrade on the defensive end though and rebounding.

Along with that he wouldn't be averaging 14 points on our squad because he would be the fifth option.

I think you may be underrating J.O.'s defense.  He's an above average defensive player, and he has the length to block and change shots.  He's also an okay rebounder, and certainly better than Brad Miller.

He's not a better defender and upgrade than Perk period end of discussion.

Of course he's not.  However, he's an upgrade over what we have on our bench right now, and he's a better all-around player than Brad Miller (and a better defender, as well.)  He's also a better pick-and-roll / team defender than Shaq.  (In terms of man defense on the block, Shaq is better due to his size.)

you've got me convinced Roy. I was originally against it but I really hope we sign him up now.

Haha.  I think most people will get on board once he starts blocking shots.  It's one thing that's been missing from our squad, and he's got pretty good defensive fundamentals. 

I like the guy, but I understand why others don't.  He's not an all-star anymore, but he's still better than most available options.

[Gainesville Celtic]

For those who like Miller over J.O., is it simply a durability thing?  O'Neal scores more, grabs more rebounds, blocks more shots, gets more assists, and shoots a higher percentage.

but both we're "anchors" on that 2009 championship team......Portland CrotorNats.

(haha, JO, Shaq, Turiaf, Brad Miller... there must have been some nights when Haddadi started  )


kidding aside, i think Jermaine O'Neal is the best big man option out there along with Brad Miller. JO has his physical questions, but his skill set has always been better than Millers.

His ornery-ness will fit in nicely too with KG and a rehabbed perk.