Celtics to sign Shaq

[hpantazo]

Shaq, Jermaine, Perkins, KG and Baby gives us by far the best set of big men in the league. Now we just need Rudy and we're stacked! Come on Rudy!

[KungPoweChicken]

If the C's sign Shaq for the minimum, maybe they could trade Wallace's contract along with Perkins and a future first for Tayshaun Prince. I'd totally be down for that. It's all about doing everything you can to win it all next year.

[Mencius]

...(Although I suspect that Perk wont be back to true starter form until a full year from now anyway)

Yeah, that's my expectation too.  Seems the way things go when coming back from a torn ACL.

[Potapenko Boxout]

ive never been so happy!

[jdpapa3]

Does a sign and trade guy have to be shipped out alone?

[MBunge]

The best way to keep a Shaq signing in perspective for good and bad is to remember that's he basically going to be replacing what the team got from Sheed.

Sheed regular season - 22.5 minutes a game, 9 points, 40% fg, 28% 3fg, 4.1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, .9 blocks
Shaq regular season - 23.4 minutes a game, 12 points, 56% fg, 6.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, .3 steals, 1.2 blocks

Sheed playoffs - 17.1 minutes, 6.1 points, 41% fg, 34% 3fg, 3 rebounds, .4 assists, .4 steals, .6 blocks
Shaq playoffs - 22.1 minutes, 11.5 points, 51% fg, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .2 steals, 1.2 blocks

And while Shaq's defensive weaknesses have been well discussed, let's recall that Sheed's pick-n-roll defense and interior defensive rotations weren't all that great last season either.


Mike

[Mencius]

Does a sign and trade guy have to be shipped out alone?

I've wondered about that too, and never received an answer.  Even checked Coon's site, but didn't see anything there either.

[MattG12]

I was down on our chances after losing in the Finals... I didn't think we would have a good enough bench to give it one more shot... but if Shaq does come... and we can get a little more insurance behind Pierce (Jamario Moon sounds good to me) then I will be ready to count down the days to opening night vs. the dark side.

[Celtics17]

Has anyone pointed out that we now have the biggest and the smallest players on the same team? And dont tell me Yao is bigger then Shaq.

[jdpapa3]

I can already imagine a lineup with a 650 lb tandem running the paint!

[RAcker]

Wow.  I am not a huge fan of this from a personality, as well as basketball perspective (I don't know how well he will mesh with the system)...but it sure would be fun.  And honestly, it is the kind of high reward type move (we can determine the risk when we hear what the deal is) that this team probably needs to do to compete with Miami and LA.  

I personally don't think it will work out great, but it has the potential to be spectacular, if they can make it work.  And given where they stand right now, I guess, why not swing for the fences.  I was a proponent of the Marbury signing for a similar reason, so I certainly can't argue against this too hard.

I agree with you, Chris.  This is the swing for the fences move that Danny often looks for at moments where we can afford taking the chance.  With Perk down, this is the type of thing he had to come up with to beef us up.

Now, if he gets yet another solid shooter of a younger age, we are having to feel out of minds with excitement about how this off-season has gone.  Shaq for 15 min a night is a huge boost, especially when the entire team is healthy with Perk in the rotation.

The C's just answered the age old question, "Where's the beef?"  

[ssspence]

Does a sign and trade guy have to be shipped out alone?

I've wondered about that too, and never received an answer.  Even checked Coon's site, but didn't see anything there either.

Don't believe so. As you'll recall, Keith Van Horn was signed and traded out of retirement as part of a multiple team deal. What I can't figure out is the three year minimum - Van Horn wasn't signed for 3 years, so why would Shaq have to be.

[fairweatherfan]

If there's talk of Shaq and the C's being "close" to a deal, that's gotta mean it's not for the vet min, cause I don't see much to be negotiated in a minimum contract, and I don't see Shaq taking the minimum anyway.

Seems more likely we're discussing a sign-and-trade with Cleveland, either for Sheed's deal (hope we get something else with it) or for Baby (hope we don't do this).

[Mencius]

Does a sign and trade guy have to be shipped out alone?

I've wondered about that too, and never received an answer.  Even checked Coon's site, but didn't see anything there either.

Don't believe so. As you'll recall, Keith Van Horn was signed and traded out of retirement as part of a multiple team deal. What I can't figure out is the three year minimum - Van Horn wasn't signed for 3 years, so why would Shaq have to be.

But was Van Horn traded with another player from his same team?

[the_Bird]

Does a sign and trade guy have to be shipped out alone?

I've wondered about that too, and never received an answer.  Even checked Coon's site, but didn't see anything there either.

Don't believe so. As you'll recall, Keith Van Horn was signed and traded out of retirement as part of a multiple team deal. What I can't figure out is the three year minimum - Van Horn wasn't signed for 3 years, so why would Shaq have to be.

I think Van Horn was signed for three years, but with only one year guaranteed.