Celtics to sign Shaq

[merkinmuffly]

Dumbest move celtics have made since they signed Vin Baker another lazy, whiny fat player that doesn't play defense. Will totally ruin the Celtic chemistry, can't play pick and roll or perimeter defense. Clogs up the lane for great driving players that can't shoot, like Rondo and Lebron. Stupid move by the Celtics.

[celts34pats55]

Baby can't afford a flat screen in the bedroom?

Maybe it's a hotel.

I noticed that too!!

I AM SOOO PUMPED ABOUT THIS MOVE!!!! Banner 18 here we come!

[merkinmuffly]

Last year, Snaq was going to, "Get a Ring for the King" in Cleveland, the closest he came to that was, "buying some onion rings from burger king". 

[LooseCannon]

Yeah - that trade probably can work - but its not going down.  Sheed is playing with the Celtics this year and Baby is being traded for Fernandez + filler.

Celtics are not trading their only young healthy big.

Semih Erden is young, healthy, and big.

[guava_wrench]

Sorry if this has been explained ad nauseum elsewhere -- but, can someone explain to me how/if Sheed's contract (or Sheed, the player) can be preserved till the trade deadline.  Does it just mean that the C's pay him till then (does he need to be officially on the roster)?  Or does Sheed either have to officially retire or accept a buyout if he's not on the roster? 

If Sheed can be preserved till the deadline, this seems to me to be the best of all worlds.  Allows the C's to address injuries if they occur, allows them to see if Perk is healing, allows the option of Sheed returning mid-year.   A healthy team mid-year allows them to use his contract to strengthen wherever needed.  Prior to this apparent Shaq signing, I was wanting Sheed's contract traded for a defensive 3 ASAP, but now I think it prudent to wait -- if that is a possibility. Someone help me understand the logistics around this please.

I don't know if we can or will. 

As far as "can," I don't know if anything exactly like this has ever been done before.  I guess we could make up the fact that Sheed has an injury, but will the league call foul knowing that he a) won't show up to camp and b) that it's been publicly discussed how he wants out.

As far as "will," will Wyc actually let him sit at home until February, paying 3.5-4 million of his salary (at luxury dollars cost)?  And what happens if no one wants him or that we don't want who other teams offer?  Part of the appeal of dealing him now is that a team could clear a 2010-2011 salary.  If we wait, they'd only save about 2/5 of the 2010-2011 salary. 

That's 1 wasted roster spot and 7mill + dollars. No thanks.

I don't see how the league can object to us trading a player with an active contract, even if he never shows up and just collects his checks from home. That is a bad business decision, but I don't see any problems with the league.

I don't know.  But it'd also be a blatant circumvention of the salary cap.  We're over, and we'd be finding a way to get up to 7 million dollars worth of salary here.

If the deal happens now, the league can at least rationalize that Sheed didn't really know what he was going to do. 

If we wait to February, no rationalizing can take place. 

I don't know if the league would cry foul on that.  I also don't know if it's against any CBA rules.  But another to thing to think about is whether they will make some rule in January about it if it becomes apparent what Danny is doing? 

Why would it be a circumvention? He is really under contract. This isn't a case of re-signing a guy who want to retire for the sake of a trade. No different from when we traded for Grant's contract.

[guava_wrench]

Dumbest move celtics have made since they signed Vin Baker another lazy, whiny fat player that doesn't play defense. Will totally ruin the Celtic chemistry, can't play pick and roll or perimeter defense. Clogs up the lane for great driving players that can't shoot, like Rondo and Lebron. Stupid move by the Celtics.

Offensively, I don't see how he hurts more than Perk apart from potentially demanding the ball more than he should. Any complaint you can make for Shaq on offense you can make double for Perk.

On defense, I expect his pick and roll defense to be below Perk's. Perk's perimeter D isn't particularly good either, so I don't see why that is worth mentioning.

My main point is you have to judge Shaq in comparison to Perk, not in comparison with some ideal that we didn't have in the first place.

If this is for a minimum contract, I like this move very much. I was against giving a lot of money, but his legitimate post game is something we lacked. Baby will get swatted less since he will take more midrange jumpers like in 2009 since he will often play with Shaq or JO, who play closer to the rim than Sheed did.

[fairweatherfan06]

Excluding Sheed and Lafayette and Oliver and not including who we get for Sheed's contract with Shaq the avg age of this team is 28.

In comparison the Lakers avg age is 30
Miami's is currently 27.9
Mavs is also 27.9

Older than the avg team, yes.  Old, no, not so much.

[ben]

this is great
sheed please come back
trade bbd

[FallGuy]

Chris Mannix has some tweets this morning on this topic:

Nash-factor in play, too. Nash was constantly frustrated by Shaq's presence in the paint in Phoenix. Rondo similar type of player.
4 minutes ago via web

Oft repeated, but pick and roll D is a huge concern with Shaq. Miami, Orlando would ram p+r down Celtics throats with him on the floor.
6 minutes ago via web

Remember, I'm on record saying the Celtics should do it. But that opinion is in stark contrast with every NBA-type I've talked to.
14 minutes ago via web

Shaq isn't getting positive endorsements from his ex-coaches, either.
14 minutes ago via web

Danny Ainge's basketball people probably echoing same things I'm hearing: that Shaq's attitude, defense and immobility make him a big risk
16 minutes ago via web

Sources indicate Shaq and Celtics working towards a deal but feeling is the longer this drags out, odds of an agreement dip dramatically.

[Fafnir]

Chris Mannix has some tweets this morning on this topic:

Nash-factor in play, too. Nash was constantly frustrated by Shaq's presence in the paint in Phoenix. Rondo similar type of player.
4 minutes ago via web

Oft repeated, but pick and roll D is a huge concern with Shaq. Miami, Orlando would ram p+r down Celtics throats with him on the floor.
6 minutes ago via web

Remember, I'm on record saying the Celtics should do it. But that opinion is in stark contrast with every NBA-type I've talked to.
14 minutes ago via web

Shaq isn't getting positive endorsements from his ex-coaches, either.
14 minutes ago via web

Danny Ainge's basketball people probably echoing same things I'm hearing: that Shaq's attitude, defense and immobility make him a big risk
16 minutes ago via web

Sources indicate Shaq and Celtics working towards a deal but feeling is the longer this drags out, odds of an agreement dip dramatically.

I don't think Chris is wrong, if/when Perkins comes back healthy Shaq should go down to 10-15 minutes as a backup C.

If he's agreed to come off the bench for the minimum I think he's worth the risk though

[Fafnir]

Chris Broussard just tweeted that Shaq has made up his mind and will be coming to Boston.

[celticinorlando]

listen...going into the season with eden, JO and baby as our bigs just isn't enough. who else is out there? kwame brown?? they are getting shaq for the VET MIN. low risk, high reward.

my biggest concern is unloading the sheed contract for a young shooter. that needs to be done ASAP

[kozlodoev]

Offensively, I don't see how he hurts more than Perk apart from potentially demanding the ball more than he should. Any complaint you can make for Shaq on offense you can make double for Perk.

I just can't wait for those pick-and-rolls with Shaq. Shaq rolling to the basket must be something. Something like a freight train coming at you. In slow motion.

On defense, I expect his pick and roll defense to be below Perk's. Perk's perimeter D isn't particularly good either, so I don't see why that is worth mentioning

Perkins can credibly blitz the ball handler. He can also adjust from the weak side and generally, you know, move. As for why it's worth mentioning, I guess we will have to wait until Shaq first checks in.

My main point is you have to judge Shaq in comparison to Perk, not in comparison with some ideal that we didn't have in the first place.

No, we have to judge him with respect to other available vet minimum signings. And the bottom line is that just about anyone out there will be a defensive upgrade over Shaq, which is supposedly offset by a moderately efficient offensive game we may or may not need.

[kozlodoev]

listen...going into the season with eden, JO and baby as our bigs just isn't enough. who else is out there? kwame brown?? they are getting shaq for the VET MIN. low risk, high reward.

No, it isn't. On the other hand, getting pumped up about someone who should be a 15 mpg player is just plain silly.

[Evantime34]

Offensively, I don't see how he hurts more than Perk apart from potentially demanding the ball more than he should. Any complaint you can make for Shaq on offense you can make double for Perk.

quote
I just can't wait for those pick-and-rolls with Shaq. Shaq rolling to the basket must be something. Something like a freight train coming at you. In slow motion.

I don't think we will run Pick and Rolls with Shaq much. He will be setting more off the ball screens and standing near the hoop waiting for a dish from Rondo. Which he will finish.

On defense, I expect his pick and roll defense to be below Perk's. Perk's perimeter D isn't particularly good either, so I don't see why that is worth mentioning

Perkins can credibly blitz the ball handler. He can also adjust from the weak side and generally, you know, move. As for why it's worth mentioning, I guess we will have to wait until Shaq first checks in.

I'm pretty sure we are going to change our defense so Shaq doesn't blitz the ballhandler. If he does it'll be an automatic two points.

My main point is you have to judge Shaq in comparison to Perk, not in comparison with some ideal that we didn't have in the first place.

No, we have to judge him with respect to other available vet minimum signings. And the bottom line is that just about anyone out there will be a defensive upgrade over Shaq, which is supposedly offset by a moderately efficient offensive game we may or may not need.

Shaq is not that bad defensively. Even if he can't blitz the pick he can clog the middle and get rebounds. How many times last year did we play great defense, only to give up an offensive rebound. Defensive rebounding is a part of defense.