Shaq wants to be a Celtic

[ben]

The problem I see with all this talk of Shaq is who is the odd man out once Perk is back?  We definitely need a backup center until Perk comes back (Semih won't cut it).  However, we don't have minutes for KG, Jermaine, Shaq, Perk, and Big Baby.  Somebody will end up sitting on the bench during the playoffs, and somebody won't like it.

I suppose we could do a lot worse than acquiring Shaq from Cleveland using Rasheed's contract if we got a wing that can defend and shoot in return (e.g. Parker or Moon).  However, if we could trade Sheed's contract for a better wing player and get a serviceable center who could be our backup for the regular season and then merely a reserve in the playoffs, I'd much rather go with that.


We have a much more glaring need for a backup SG / SF than for a backup big man.  I don't feel confident at all in this team if Marquis Daniels is our primary backup for Ray and Paul.

We only have one center right now, Jermaine(I know KG can play it but we need him at PF).  Hopefully Perkins comes back.  It's better to  have too many PFs and Centers than not enough.  Perk, KG, Jermain are all injury prone, and by playoff time, we need at least 4 effective bigs on our team, 2 to start and at least 2 on the bench!  So if we get Shaq, we'll have a better chance to have 4 healthy bigs come playoff time, KG Shaq Jermaine and Perkins.  We really need 4 bigs to battle against LA. 

It would be MUCH easier in an emergency to find a back up wing if pierce/ray/marquise get injured.

If we sign Shaq and all the bigs on our team are miraculously healthy by play off time, I would simply sit Big Baby Davis, its good to have some type of insurance.

[greg_kite]

The problem I see with all this talk of Shaq is who is the odd man out once Perk is back?  We definitely need a backup center until Perk comes back (Semih won't cut it).  However, we don't have minutes for KG, Jermaine, Shaq, Perk, and Big Baby.  Somebody will end up sitting on the bench during the playoffs, and somebody won't like it.

I suppose we could do a lot worse than acquiring Shaq from Cleveland using Rasheed's contract if we got a wing that can defend and shoot in return (e.g. Parker or Moon).  However, if we could trade Sheed's contract for a better wing player and get a serviceable center who could be our backup for the regular season and then merely a reserve in the playoffs, I'd much rather go with that.

We have a much more glaring need for a backup SG / SF than for a backup big man.  I don't feel confident at all in this team if Marquis Daniels is our primary backup for Ray and Paul.

As others have mentioned we have to be under the assumption Perk is not coming back and anything he gives us is a bonus. Guys just don't recover right away from this injury. It takes about a year if not more. Will Perk trust the knee? How rusty will he be? Can he reagin a rhythm with the team? Especially if Jermaine is playing well and is the starter... In my opinion it is foolish for the Celtics to assume Perk will be able to contribute effectively this year. On defense he is asked to use that knee against the ultra athletuc howard, the amares, gasols, bynums, etc.

WE NEED ANOTHER CENTER!!!! Plain and simple!!!

I totally agree.

Shaq is also the one player that none of those teams can match up with.  Even at 38 he's still a matchup nightmare.  Even if it's only for 20 minutes a game, you really only care how he plays during the playoffs against Howard(can single cover similar to Perk).
Against Miami(Big Z is too skinny and Magloire sucks), he will be motivated to beat his old buddies in LeBron and Wade and also beat the guy he's been calling RuPaul for a few years. 
And finally the Lakers, the one team that he would probably want to beat more than anyone, and he'd be the one player the C's could get that would actually be bigger than the Lakers front line.

[steve]

He's not going to Orlando, Dwight stole his superman thing.  Not going to LA, obviously.  Not going to MIA, Bosh WNBA Rupaul. 

We are the only championship team left. 

Shaq  Leon Powe
for
Sheed protected 1st rounder

 

   

[Celticsfan336]

I thought we are running a supposed championship-caliber roster. Never realized we are running the home-for-the-aged basketball team!

Veteran teams win titles...not kids.  Unless you'd rather have Big Al, Gerald and Telfair donning Celtics green. 

This!

BTW. Shaq is a perfect fit. We would have one of the best Big Men squads in the league come playoff time. (KG, BBD, Shaq, JO, Perk)

[thebat]

He's not going to Orlando, Dwight stole his superman thing.  Not going to LA, obviously.  Not going to MIA, Bosh WNBA Rupaul. 

We are the only championship team left. 

Shaq  Leon Powe
for
Sheed protected 1st rounder  

If Leon Powe is healthy and can play 100%, I say bring him back! Bring along a team mate as well  also (Shaq) and I'll be fine with it.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I don't get the mentality on this board.

You guys act as if Shaq has to prove that he is destined to be a winner to come here.  That he will eventually become an MVP if he proves it in your eyes.

I have news for you:  Shaq is not looking for a max contract from the Boston Celtics.  In fact, he is looking for far less.  And he is the MOST dominant center of the LAST TWO DECADES, a position that is more vital than ANY.

When I saw Manu Ginobli drive to the hoop in the 2009, I only saw one guy meet him and work to move his feet to defend:  Shaq, because the SG played terrible defense and did not stay in front of Manu.  When I saw a player step up and play physical and score against the Celtics in the 2010 playoffs it wasn't "The King" Lebron, it was Shaq under the hoop.  Shaq made Perkins and Davis seem small. 

Shaquille O'Neal is a 3-time finals MVP, and 1-time regular season MVP, though he should have won more regular season MVP's.  He's goofy, he loves basketball, and he is well on his way to becoming a legend.  He has NOTHING to prove that he "deserves" to be a Celtic, especially after we've accepted people with far less credentials. 

This Celtics team, our team, is a championship caliber team... but we could use all the extra veteran help we could get.  Instead of holding your head high and saying "we don't need your help because you haven't proven to be worthy", I say:

"If you're a winner and want to be here, then welcome aboard."

And Shaq has more than proven that he competes, and that he is a winner... even at this age.  Without even factoring in that our offense is geared around set-offense, which benefits Shaq, I welcome him and sincerely hope that he joins this team.  I would be PROUD to have him on this team.

[Asijs]

I have news for you:  Shaq is not looking for a max contract from the Boston Celtics.  In fact, he is looking for far less. 

Source?

[Spilling Green Dye]

I have news for you:  Shaq is not looking for a max contract from the Boston Celtics.  In fact, he is looking for far less. 

Source?

lol, seriously?  Do you want to link every single news article of Shaq from the past few weeks?  Shaq is not asking for $16+million per year.

[wiley]

The problem I see with all this talk of Shaq is who is the odd man out once Perk is back?  We definitely need a backup center until Perk comes back (Semih won't cut it).  However, we don't have minutes for KG, Jermaine, Shaq, Perk, and Big Baby.  Somebody will end up sitting on the bench during the playoffs, and somebody won't like it.

I suppose we could do a lot worse than acquiring Shaq from Cleveland using Rasheed's contract if we got a wing that can defend and shoot in return (e.g. Parker or Moon).  However, if we could trade Sheed's contract for a better wing player and get a serviceable center who could be our backup for the regular season and then merely a reserve in the playoffs, I'd much rather go with that.


We have a much more glaring need for a backup SG / SF than for a backup big man.  I don't feel confident at all in this team if Marquis Daniels is our primary backup for Ray and Paul.

We only have one center right now, Jermaine(I know KG can play it but we need him at PF).  Hopefully Perkins comes back.  It's better to  have too many PFs and Centers than not enough.  Perk, KG, Jermain are all injury prone, and by playoff time, we need at least 4 effective bigs on our team, 2 to start and at least 2 on the bench!  So if we get Shaq, we'll have a better chance to have 4 healthy bigs come playoff time, KG Shaq Jermaine and Perkins.  We really need 4 bigs to battle against LA. 

It would be MUCH easier in an emergency to find a back up wing if pierce/ray/marquise get injured.

If we sign Shaq and all the bigs on our team are miraculously healthy by play off time, I would simply sit Big Baby Davis, its good to have some type of insurance.

T freaking P Ben!

[action781]

Sign and Trade!  Anthony Parker + Shaq (2 yr 8 mil) for 'Sheed + first rounder (or Harangody).  That would be the perfect trade.  Parker would be the perfect complement as a shooter to Rondo and Daniels on the 2nd line.  Does Cleveland do this?  IMO, that situates us perfectly for next season.  Then we have depth at every position.  We could even afford to trade Perk, JO, or Baby for a future asset if one comes along that is enticing.

[Fafnir]

Sign and Trade!  Anthony Parker + Shaq (2 yr 8 mil) for 'Sheed + first rounder (or Harangody).  That would be the perfect trade.  Parker would be the perfect complement as a shooter to Rondo and Daniels on the 2nd line.  Does Cleveland do this?  IMO, that situates us perfectly for next season.  Then we have depth at every position.  We could even afford to trade Perk, JO, or Baby for a future asset if one comes along that is enticing.

We should not be giving up a first rounder for that deal.

[thebat]

I hope Sheed does not retire yet. I prefer him over Shaq. At least Sheed knows the system and just make him use hid deadly post up moves again. I also like his defense over Shaq. Plus more importantly, Sheed knows to shoot those free throws.

[Eddie20]

When the following players played vs Cleveland

Gasol

PPG 12.0
RPG 8.0
FG% 37.5

Bynum

PPG 5.5
RPG  7.0
FG% 50

Bosh

PPG 14.7
RPG 9.0
FG% 47.1

In fact, the only one that seems to have success vs. Shaq is Howard.

Howard

PPG 18.5
RPG 11.8
FG% 62.5

Shaq vs...

LAL

PPG 12.5
RPG 5.5
FG% 58.8
MPG 25.0

Mia (they still have Anthony and replaced JO with a bad defender in Big Z)

PPG 15.3
RPG  6.0
FG% 57.6
MPG 23.0

Orl

PPG 13.3
RPG 5.3
FG% 66.7
MPG 23.3

Shaq's production per minute was very high in all of these matchups.

[Bankshot]

I'd be happy with giving Shaq the starting job and bringing JO off the bench. At the deadline, the C's can package Davis and Perk (both expiring) for a wing and a marginal fourth big man. JO and Shaq is a huge upgrade over Perkins and negates his presence on the floor.

Are you serious?  You don't package two young bigs in favor of one year of a 39 year old Shaq and a "marginal" center.  Baby and Perk just lose some playing time (don't expect Perk to be effective anyway).  They'll get their time back next year when Shaq is gone. 

[Who]

When the following players played vs Cleveland

Bosh

PPG 14.7
RPG 9.0
FG% 47.1

Chris Bosh left one of those games early with an injury (the reason for the unimpressive per game stats). In the two other games against Cleveland, Bosh had a dominant performance (20/15 leading TOR to a win) + a very good game (20/10 game) against the Cavs.

The main reason for Toronto did so well against the Cavs in those two games was the inability of Shaquille O'Neal + Zydrunas Ilgauskas to cover either Andrea Bargnani or Chris Bosh. The Cavs played very well once they took those two off the court.

Shaquille O'Neal had a +/- of -30 across the two games.