Shaq wants to be a Celtic

[Q_FBE]

What a story book ending to Shaquille O'Neal's career!

The man who played in the last meaningful game in the Boston Garden back in 1995 when Sherman Douglas was the point guard for the Celtics and Dino Radja was the starting center and Dominique Wilkins missed two FT's in the last 30 seconds of game 4.

The man who teamed up with Kobe to win three striaght championshi_s for the F----- and divorced them.

Now he comes back to deny Kobe his threepeat and gives the Celtics their 18th championship making a Bill Walton style comeback.

What a beautiful way to cap a remarkable basketball career!! Throw it down Big Fella, Throw it down!!!!!

(This was of course written in my condescending tone of my all time favorite commentator on The History of the NBA).

[LooseCannon]

Is there a way to S &T Shaq for about 3 million a year (not comfortable with having him at more than that) to Cleveland and create a trade exception we can use then to get another wing Fernandez or whomever?  At the minimum I like the deal but there's no wings on Cleveland that I'd be interested in taking Shaq in a S&T with. 

It should be possible, since Cleveland has a huge trade exception from the LeBron S&T, but it will cost more.  If you could S&T Shaq for Sheed plus a couple of second round picks, it might be Sheed plus a first and second round pick to get a sizable trade exception that Ainge isn't guaranteed to be able to use.

Also, remember that a S&T has to be for a three-year contract, although only the first must be guaranteed.  I think Shaq will want, at a minimum, two years guaranteed, probably with at least partial guarantee for year 3.

Before you start proposing trades to grab wings from Cleveland, you might want to figure out who they will be starting at small forward.

[keychey]

can you guys tell me if my understanding wrong here? if shaq is a free agent now, he can sign with any team, right? and if that's the case, we should be able to do a sign-and-trade with any team that he signs with and not just with the cavs, right?
if that's possible, may be we can involve a team that has a decent wing and also wants to shed some contracts. have them sign shaq and then do a s+t for sheed's contract and may be future picks?

[jr_3421]

can you guys tell me if my understanding wrong here? if shaq is a free agent now, he can sign with any team, right? and if that's the case, we should be able to do a sign-and-trade with any team that he signs with and not just with the cavs, right?
if that's possible, may be we can involve a team that has a decent wing and also wants to shed some contracts. have them sign shaq and then do a s+t for sheed's contract and may be future picks?

He cannot be part of a S&T unless it involves the CLE. If he signs with another team, he has to wait for a certain deadline to be traded but I am not sure when that is.

[Papatrichs]

Sheed's contract for Shaq, no, we still need another wing, but Sheed and Gaffney+Lafayette for Shaq and Jamario Moon I would do.

That will do.

[bdm860]

Another good thing if we sign Shaq, we'll probably get back in the prime time Christmas game slot.  They still love the Kobe/Shaq feud after all these years, I think that's enough to bump the Lakers/Heat matchup that the league will be sure to offer.

[Birdbrain]

S & T for Shaq and Anthony Parker?

With Marquis, we lack a backup wing who can shoot. Jamario may duplicate Daniels in a lot of ways. A sign and trade for Shaq and AP would be awesome if Cleveland were interested in dumping more salary and adding a pick or two.

Rondo / Nate / Bradley
Ray / Parker / Bradley
Pierce / Daniels / Parker
KG / Baby
JO / Shaq

The only problem I see with this is that when Perk comes back, theres 5 big men who deserve legitimate minutes. Maybe we trade Baby during the season and go into the playoffs with a 4 headed monster of KG, Shaq, Jermaine O'Neal, and Perkins. All playing 20-30 minutes a night. Shaq closer to 20 of course. We could add baby to the trade with Cleveland, but then we may still be a body short until Perk returns. I think Parker would be a great wing off the bench for us, and could play either the two or the three.

I'm not disagreeing with your concept that once Perkins comes back there would be a lot of bigs.  But just remember if BBD is the one you are planning on trading the injury and age of shaq, KG, JO and Perkins.  That's almost asking for trouble, IMO.

Shaq at vet min is a lock would he 'really' take that though, I doubt it.  So a trade like you mentioned would seem the most logical.  Also if Dan Gilbert meant what he said it would be 1 way of hurting the Heat. 

As others have mentioned the story lines with Shaq coming to Boston would be off the charts. 

[Spilling Green Dye]

Common Danny, get the deal done!!!  I'd be fine with a basic sign and trade to bring in Shaq for more than the vet minimum.

After watching Shaq the past few years, I've concluded that in the playoffs he was the 2nd best player on the court for his team (both with the Suns and Cavs).  I know people here would disagree with that, but I really did feel that way.   And, he'd be better than Jermaine O'Neal, Davis, and sometimes Perkins.  Perkins has the edge in pick and roll defense though.  He's the perfect weapon for our already slow half-court team! 

If the Celtics can't get this done I'll be extremely disappointed. 

[Thruthelookingglass]

If Shaq does sign on with the Celtics, what's the chance he'll want to tape some more "Kobe rap" videos?   

[csfansince60s]

The uncertainty of Perkins playing effectively at all next year should be more than enough impetus for Danny to do this with a S&T (including Parker and/or Moon.) A committee of Marquis/Bradley/Parker and/or Moon should be enough to backup the 2/3.

Work your magic Danny.

[Jon]

I think I'd still prefer Howard, Battier, or Prince; however, I'm not sure how realistic any of them are.  Howard has contract complications, I don't think the Rockets want to trade (or at least give away) Battier, and Prince makes too much money not to include more assets. 

So if we can't get a top wing anyway, I'd be willing to roll the dice on Shaq and Moon/Parker.  We'd get a pretty good wing and we'd get post scoring and insurance. 

And then if Perk miraculously does come back, we could consider trading one of our bigs near the deadline if we really feel we need an upgrade at the 2/3 spot. 

[DinTN]

The uncertainty of Perkins playing effectively at all next year should be more than enough impetus for Danny to do this with a S&T (including Parker and/or Moon.) A committee of Marquis/Bradley/Parker and/or Moon should be enough to backup the 2/3.

Work your magic Danny.

Good point about Perkins playing effectively next year.

Shaq at vet min - absolutely.

Shaq with S&T - preferably without having to give up Wallace's contract since we need it for another wing. Not a big fan of Moon.

On the points about too many bigs, if the guys are really serious about a championship, then this shouldn't be a problem. Also, you can always trade someone later. I'd rather have the "problem" of too many bigs.

Bottom line: I'm hoping for Shaq, Josh Howard, and the return of Sheed at playoff time. Wouldn't mind if we added a shooter (House)? at vet min.

[nickagneta]

I'm not thrilled about the fit as I think Shaq's game and personality will have trouble finding itself into that of a bench role player that is far down on the pecking scale on this club. That said, if Shaq is willing to take the minimum, which is a league subsidized contract, then I don't have a problem with him coming aboard as he could be released if the fit isn't good.

[hwangjini_1]

Is there a way to S &T Shaq for about 3 million a year (not comfortable with having him at more than that) to Cleveland and create a trade exception we can use then to get another wing Fernandez or whomever?  At the minimum I like the deal but there's no wings on Cleveland that I'd be interested in taking Shaq in a S&T with. 

It should be possible, since Cleveland has a huge trade exception from the LeBron S&T, but it will cost more.  If you could S&T Shaq for Sheed plus a couple of second round picks, it might be Sheed plus a first and second round pick to get a sizable trade exception that Ainge isn't guaranteed to be able to use.

Also, remember that a S&T has to be for a three-year contract, although only the first must be guaranteed.  I think Shaq will want, at a minimum, two years guaranteed, probably with at least partial guarantee for year 3.

Before you start proposing trades to grab wings from Cleveland, you might want to figure out who they will be starting at small forward.

If shaq wants a second year ainge will say yes.  First off, the window for this team MIGHT really be two more years if enough good players are accumulated.

Second, the second year is probably a lock out. So why not agree to it?

Third, having shaq's salary a second year is not going to cripple the celtics payroll then. In three years the team will be entering some form of rebuilding and a few million for shaq won't make or break the team.

Ainge should sign oneal.

[nickagneta]

Is there a way to S &T Shaq for about 3 million a year (not comfortable with having him at more than that) to Cleveland and create a trade exception we can use then to get another wing Fernandez or whomever?  At the minimum I like the deal but there's no wings on Cleveland that I'd be interested in taking Shaq in a S&T with. 

It should be possible, since Cleveland has a huge trade exception from the LeBron S&T, but it will cost more.  If you could S&T Shaq for Sheed plus a couple of second round picks, it might be Sheed plus a first and second round pick to get a sizable trade exception that Ainge isn't guaranteed to be able to use.

Also, remember that a S&T has to be for a three-year contract, although only the first must be guaranteed.  I think Shaq will want, at a minimum, two years guaranteed, probably with at least partial guarantee for year 3.

Before you start proposing trades to grab wings from Cleveland, you might want to figure out who they will be starting at small forward.

I do not believe this is possible. A trade exception can only be traded for a whole player and can not make up only a portion of a players salary. So in trading Rasheed to Cleveland for a sign and trade for Shaq, you can not make up the difference in Sheed's salary by using a trade exception. Sheed's entire salary can be traded for an exception or for players but not both.