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

[hpantazo]

smart move for Oneal. By joining the celtics he ensures that Perk can't embarrass him again (at least in public).

[erisred]

If it took the whole MLE, I'm not thrilled.  However, this is a great move because of Perk's injury.  Ainge really needed to find a starting caliber center who can play some serious minutes until Perk gets back.

Mike

Exactly how I see it. I'm not thrilled that it's the full MLE, but JO was the best available that we had a shot at.

Still need a shooter and to fill out the rest of the bench. Nate, Tony, a big and a shooting wing to go with Bradley, Harangody and Erden. That would be 14, so Danny would have room for one more vet or project.

If the missing big and shooter could be had for Sheed's contract (Turief and Morrow?) I'd give Danny an A+ for the off season.

[lon3lytoaster]

Ugh. What a crappy ring chaser. Jermaine, you're supposed to agree to the vets minimum so we can still use our MLE.

[jdpapa3]

Looks to be the the full MLE according to Wojo. This is the price you pay for Centers.

[Chris]

Any guesses on what the numbers will look like. I'm thinking 2 years for 12 million.

2 years, $5 Million... no way Ainge uses the whole MLE on a 30 y.o. guy with injury history.

Well, according to Wojo he did:

   1. Jermaine O'Neal's deal with Boston is for two years and nearly $12 million, league source tells Y!.He will be paid full mid-level exception.

Unfortunately, this is the market right now.  Haywood just agreed to a 6 year/$55 million deal with Dallas, so this is a bargain.

[CelticsWhat35]

So, trades aside, are vet min contracts the only thing the Celtics can do now to add to the roster?  Can they go over the cap to resign Tony?  What about Marquis?  Did he have a player option?

[MBunge]

It hurts to see the whole MLE get used up for it, but this is like another domino to fall after deciding to bring back Pierce.  With Perk out, Ainge had to go out and find a starting quality center who can play at least 30some minutes a game.  The other options are either out of Boston's price range (Haywood) or couldn't play those minutes (Shaq).

Mike

[hpantazo]

So, trades aside, are vet min contracts the only thing the Celtics can do now to add to the roster?  Can they go over the cap to resign Tony?  What about Marquis?  Did he have a player option?

any chance of trading for Rudy Fernandez? How about Wallace's contract and a resigned Nate for Rudy and Camby?

[winsomme]

I just straight-up like this move...the only caveat is injury history, but given his production even last season, this seems like a terrific move even money-wise.

[Gomesfan]

Roy you giot your man!

[StartOrien]

Roy you giot your man!

Next stop: Michael Redd?

[timepiece33]

2 year deals for Ray, Kevin, and Jermaine.   It sounds like we are pursuing Barbosa with Rasheed's contract.   

Overall, the push appears to be for 2 years and then salary cap flexibility. 

[LarBrd33]

Well he can't be any worse than Sheed was last year, right?

And the fact that he's only 31 means we can all talk ourselves into his "resurgence" Vin Baker style over the summer.

Whose gonna be the first to name-drop Grant Hill as an example of old broken players who eventually regained some ability?

[hpantazo]

Roy you giot your man!

Next stop: Michael Redd?

Redd? Is he still in the league?

[fairweatherfan]

The most surprising thing about this is that O'Neal's still only 31.  That's practically a baby by our standards.

Probably a good move.  O'Neal is obviously cooked as a top option, but as a 3rd/4th big he's still much better than most teams' guys in that spot.  And we need someone to play center until Perk comes back. 

Hope we can move Sheed's instantly expiring contract for a solid backup wing now.  We're still a couple pieces away.