Celtics to sign Shaq

[erisred]

BOO YA! Get it done with! Call it an off-season!

We still need another backup sf.  I don't think we should feel comfortable with the injury prone Daniels Pierce's only backup.  Now get Corey Brewer and THEN call it an off-season.

That would be a winner!

[wdleehi]

From Brian Windhorst....Not sure how reliable this is but just passing it along.

So if Shaq goes to Boston, it is likely going to be on a veteran's minimum contract of $1.4 million.

http://twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

I hope so.  Would leave the Wallace contract as a big trade chip going forward.  

Yes. The next deal should be this:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=26aaewx

Cs throw in a pick to GSW to get it done.

Meanwhile, Windhorst is solid. The Cs have likely offered a deal at the min, and Shaq's thinkin' about it...

I like this better.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=249vy9z

With a Boston 1st to Portland and DC 2nd (or protected 1st) to Portland.

I'd do either! But why does Washington want to give away picks (all they really want is picks at this point) for an injured guy to play behind McGee starting at the break?

They wanted a C like Haywood.  He would be a nice addition to the team. 

[celticinorlando]

yeah...i am hoping perk returns

[celticinorlando]

the 12 that should dress with Perk out and not signing anyone else:

1. rondo
2 ray
3 PP
4 KG
5 Jermaine O'Neal
6 Shaq
7 Nate
8 Baby
9 Daniels
10 Bradley
11 Von Wafer
12 Gody and Erden swapping off

[ssspence]

From Brian Windhorst....Not sure how reliable this is but just passing it along.

So if Shaq goes to Boston, it is likely going to be on a veteran's minimum contract of $1.4 million.

http://twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

I hope so.  Would leave the Wallace contract as a big trade chip going forward.  

Yes. The next deal should be this:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=26aaewx

Cs throw in a pick to GSW to get it done.

Meanwhile, Windhorst is solid. The Cs have likely offered a deal at the min, and Shaq's thinkin' about it...

I like this better.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=249vy9z

With a Boston 1st to Portland and DC 2nd (or protected 1st) to Portland.

I'd do either! But why does Washington want to give away picks (all they really want is picks at this point) for an injured guy to play behind McGee starting at the break?

They wanted a C like Haywood.  He would be a nice addition to the team. 

c'mon... he's damaged goods, and his contract's expiring before he'll get much better. anyway like i said -- if you can talk em into it i'm game.

but why not just Rudy for Lafayette, Gaffney and a 1st? Their market for the kid is drying up a bit, no?

[celticinorlando]

if danny can snag rudy...combined with resigning nate, PP, Tony, daniels, Shaq and JO....boston has had an excellent offseason.

i am interested in what happens to erden and harangody...one or both are destined for the D league....i would like to see Gody get some minutes at PF....i think he can be a leon powe type...

imagine this 5 on the floor together: nate, bradley, rudy, baby and shaq....wow that is pretty good

[ManUp]

I think this is bad news for Baby. KG, JO, Perk, Shaq. 4 quality bigs KG and JO are PFs who can play center. Perk and Shaq are strictly centers. JO and Shaq didn't come to ride the pine, Perk will get his minutes when he's healthy, and KG isn't going anywhere. I think BBD just became a trade chip.

[ssspence]

the only reason erden goes anywhere near the floor this year is injury. in fact, he could very well be cut before the season starts.

[Cman]

the only reason erden goes anywhere near the floor this year is injury

.. or as a ball boy

[GreenFaith1819]

I think this is bad news for Baby. KG, JO, Perk, Shaq. 4 quality bigs KG and JO are PFs who can play center. Perk and Shaq are strictly centers. JO and Shaq didn't come to ride the pine, Perk will get his minutes when he's healthy, and KG isn't going anywhere. I think BBD just became a trade chip.

I don't see Glen going anywhere, IMO...we won't have Perk back until Maybe Feb? And even then, he'll need a month or so to get back into NBA shape.

As long as Perk is ready for the playoffs I'm happy. But I don't see Glen going anywhere.

Technically, until Feb 11, we have only Shaq (probably), J.O, KG and Glen.

[erisred]

the only reason erden goes anywhere near the floor this year is injury

.. or as a ball boy

If Erden makes the squad, he'll probably spend a good bit of time in Maine. That's a good thing, I think he could really benefit from a year of good hard teaching on how to play the NBA game. I think Erden is more a 4 than a 5 anyway.

[LooseCannon]

the only reason erden goes anywhere near the floor this year is injury. in fact, he could very well be cut before the season starts.

Erden should get a season to prove himself.  He's pretty much the Celtics' best hope for having a young, athletic big with length.  What this signing means is that Doc won't be forced to use Erden and he can spend the entire year in the D-League.  That's not necessarily a good thing, as Erden may benefit most from playing against NBA talent.

If Perkins comes back and is reasonably healthy, then Big Baby loses minutes against tall, lengthy power forwards who can shoot over him and block his shot.

But I would counsel against assuming the best-case scenario for a Perkins recovery and we've seen with TA and Daniels how Doc Rivers treats injured players trying to work their way back into the rotation.  If Shaq and JO are playing effectively, Perk is coming off the bench and playing situational minutes.

Harangody right now might be the emergency small forward off the bench who sees game time if Marquis Daniels is injured....which usually seems like a good bet.

[celticinorlando]

baby is basically the only PF off the bench. he isn't going anywhere

[SCBirdman]

I think this is bad news for Baby. KG, JO, Perk, Shaq. 4 quality bigs KG and JO are PFs who can play center. Perk and Shaq are strictly centers. JO and Shaq didn't come to ride the pine, Perk will get his minutes when he's healthy, and KG isn't going anywhere. I think BBD just became a trade chip.

I respectfully disagree. I think it allows Perk to take as much time as needed for his recovery. Baby is a true PF and can extend the floor outside of the post. Baby also provides energy off the bench. For the regular season, Baby also rests the weary legs of KG, JO and Shaq.

Part of David Aldridge's article said the Celtics were not optimistic that Perk would be able to return this season. SO, for me, anything we get from Perk should be considered a bonus. Therefore, trading away BBD makes no sense whatsoever.

[Cman]

Shaq at the minimum and with a prior understanding before the contract is signed that he is coming of the bench is a home run for Danny Ainge.

This is spot on.  It seems too good to be true, but stranger things have happened.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.