Celtics to sign Shaq

[FallGuy]

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.

Comcast Boston reports Celtics close to a contract with Shaq. According to sources, #Cavs are not involved in sign-and-trade talks w/Celtics

http://twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

Speculation.

Windhorst is the bomb. He'll be in the loop.

Great news. Sheed's contract remains a useful chip for us.

[Fafnir]

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.

Comcast Boston reports Celtics close to a contract with Shaq. According to sources, #Cavs are not involved in sign-and-trade talks w/Celtics

http://twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

Speculation.

Windhorst is the bomb. He'll be in the loop.

Great news. Sheed's contract remains a useful chip for us.

Agreed, Brian Windhorst is a very reliable source.

[Evantime34]

Article

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/08/03/shaq.celtics/?ls=iref:nbahpt2


Main part most of us probably want to see:

The Celtics, the source said, have told O'Neal that he has to come off the bench next season, and that O'Neal said he could accept a reserve role for the first time in his career.

Why not start him until (if and when?) Perkins gets back if that will make him feel better?  I actually think he will respond better the more of the big guns he is on the court with whereas Jermaine may like being featured more with the second unit.

For the majority of Shaq's career hes has been the man on whatever team he's on. If he is to succeed with the Celtics he needs to break from this mind set. Telling Shaq he's not going to start is a good way to do this.

That and we already promised Jeramine the starting spot until Perk comes back.

[Mr October]

This could be a Marquis Daniels type of situation where Shaq has agreed to join Boston no matter what - even for the minimum.... but Boston has a agreed to do is due diligence to explore a trade with Cleveland.

[bdm860]

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/23627152

Ken Berger confirms this with his sources as well and says the deal will be for the veteran minimum of $1.4 million is likely a two-year deal with the second year a player option.

Is Ken Berger reliable?

[Kuberski33]

I have a lot of trouble believing that Shaq would settle for the veterans minimum

[MBunge]

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.

Comcast Boston reports Celtics close to a contract with Shaq. According to sources, #Cavs are not involved in sign-and-trade talks w/Celtics

http://twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

Speculation.

Windhorst is the bomb. He'll be in the loop.

Great news. Sheed's contract remains a useful chip for us.

If they can get Shaq at the vet min, I have to imagine that Ainge is going to throw some 2nd round picks and cash as a team under the cap to get a trade exception for Sheed's deal.  With PG, PF and C now locked up, the only thing you'd want to use Sheed's contract for is a wing that's significantly better than either Marquis or Von.  That kind of player will be more available at the trading deadline than this offseason.

Mike

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

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

Huh - he also says no S+T.  Windhorst is usually solid, but I wonder what there is to negotiate if it's a vet min deal.  Be great if it was true though; Sheed's contract would be a very strong trade chip moving forward.

Even with the money set for the most part, there is still plenty to negotiate, namely the terms of the 2nd year and the nature of Shaq's expected role with the team.

If it was a sign-and-trade, it would have been completed long ago.  The reason it didn't was because the Cs were holding out for a minimum deal with Shaq, plus assurances that he'd happily come off the bench and change his game somewhat to fit into the team--things that wouldn' t have happened with a S&T, and things that Shaq wasn't ready to face if he didn't have to...  

Now, it seems that Shaq looked around, didn't find any better offers, and has been forced to face his current NBA reality.  Good for him and good for the Cs.  Properly motivated, and coming off our bench, Shaq should feast on the 2nd unit of almost every team in the league.  And, with the ego adjustment necessary to sign for the minimum and agree to come off the bench, Shaq is also showing the kind of attitude that will allow him to play comfortably with the starters without demanding the ball or otherwise letting his ego dictate the team's scheme.  At this point in time, Shaq can still be an effective garbage man, getting the rebounds and the put backs and giving the hard fouls around the basket, something he wouldn't do in PHX or CLE, reasons why those teams ultimately failed with him in the middle.

[Kuberski33]

If it's going to be for the min, why not Miami?  They need him more than we do and he's likely to get more minutes.

[bdm860]

If it's going to be for the min, why not Miami?  They need him more than we do and he's likely to get more minutes.

Because those bridges have been burned.

[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...

[Evantime34]

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

Huh - he also says no S+T.  Windhorst is usually solid, but I wonder what there is to negotiate if it's a vet min deal.  Be great if it was true though; Sheed's contract would be a very strong trade chip moving forward.

Even with the money set for the most part, there is still plenty to negotiate, namely the terms of the 2nd year and the nature of Shaq's expected role with the team.

If it was a sign-and-trade, it would have been completed long ago.  The reason it didn't was because the Cs were holding out for a minimum deal with Shaq, plus assurances that he'd happily come off the bench and change his game somewhat to fit into the team--things that wouldn' t have happened with a S&T, and things that Shaq wasn't ready to face if he didn't have to...  

Now, it seems that Shaq looked around, didn't find any better offers, and has been forced to face his current NBA reality.  Good for him and good for the Cs.  Properly motivated, and coming off our bench, Shaq should feast on the 2nd unit of almost every team in the league.  And, with the ego adjustment necessary to sign for the minimum and agree to come off the bench, Shaq is also showing the kind of attitude that will allow him to play comfortably with the starters without demanding the ball or otherwise letting his ego dictate the team's scheme.  At this point in time, Shaq can still be an effective garbage man, getting the rebounds and the put backs and giving the hard fouls around the basket, something he wouldn't do in PHX or CLE, reasons why those teams ultimately failed with him in the middle.

If we sign him to the vet min for the first year, what is the max we can give him in the second year? I thought it was a set amount of +.25% if this is the case I'm not sure I understand what is left to negotiate.

[Chris]

If it's going to be for the min, why not Miami?  They need him more than we do and he's likely to get more minutes.

Because those bridges have been burned.

Plus, Shaq LOVES the drama.  He would have so much more fun helping to lead the C's (who will suddenly be the fan favorites compared to the Heat) against the hated Heat.  There is zero doubt in my mind that he thinks about things like that.

[celticinorlando]

when perk gets well...boston has a rotation of Shaq, KP, JO and Baby...VERY nice. they now have the size they need to beat the lakers...

PG Rondo and Nate
SG  Ray and Bradley
SF PP, Daniels HOPEFULLY Rudy
PF KG, Baby, Gody
C JO, Perk, Shaq

[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.