Shaq Signs with the Celts (Official per Celtics.com; Report: 2 years, $2.8 mil)

[beantownboy171]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5436289

Shaquille O'Neal has decided to join the Boston Celtics, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. He is expected to tell the team of his intentions Wednesday morning.


The length of the contract is not known, but O'Neal, who has been seeking a two-year deal, will play for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million annually.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers began pursuing O'Neal last month when the two met in Orlando. Boston and the Atlanta Hawks were the two clubs most interested in O'Neal, and sources say O'Neal chose the Celtics because he believes they have a better chance of winning what would be his fifth NBA championship.

O'Neal, 38, averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the Cavs' six-game loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 13.5 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes a game.

Although O'Neal is no longer the dominant force he was for most of his 18-year career, he will bolster a Celtics' front line that will be without injured starter Kendrick Perkins for the first few months of the season.

Earlier this summer, the Celtics added Jermaine O'Neal, signing the veteran center/power forward for the full mid-level exception of $5.7 million.

Comcast SportsNet-New England reported Tuesday that Shaquille O'Neal and the Celtics were close to agreeing to a deal. With Celtics general manager Danny Ainge out of town on vacation, an official news conference is expected to take place next week.

Well its official! Like it or not shaq will be a celtic next season. In an offseason full of crazy contracts and spending sprees this is a great price though.

In an offseason where dark milicic gets 5 million over 4 years. To come out of the offseason with Jermaine O'neal, Shaq, and Von Wafer with only the MLE at his disposal is a bit of a feat on danny's part. So i say kudos to him.

[Cman]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5436289

Shaquille O'Neal has decided to join the Boston Celtics, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. He is expected to tell the team of his intentions Wednesday morning.


The length of the contract is not known, but O'Neal, who has been seeking a two-year deal, will play for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million annually.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers began pursuing O'Neal last month when the two met in Orlando. Boston and the Atlanta Hawks were the two clubs most interested in O'Neal, and sources say O'Neal chose the Celtics because he believes they have a better chance of winning what would be his fifth NBA championship.

O'Neal, 38, averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the Cavs' six-game loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 13.5 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes a game.

Although O'Neal is no longer the dominant force he was for most of his 18-year career, he will bolster a Celtics' front line that will be without injured starter Kendrick Perkins for the first few months of the season.

Earlier this summer, the Celtics added Jermaine O'Neal, signing the veteran center/power forward for the full mid-level exception of $5.7 million.

Comcast SportsNet-New England reported Tuesday that Shaquille O'Neal and the Celtics were close to agreeing to a deal. With Celtics general manager Danny Ainge out of town on vacation, an official news conference is expected to take place next week.

Well its official! Like it or not shaq will be a celtic next season. In an offseason full of crazy contracts and spending sprees this is a great price though.

In an offseason where dark milicic gets 5 million over 4 years. To come out of the offseason with Jermaine O'neal, Shaq, and Von Wafer with only the MLE at his disposal is a bit of a feat on danny's part. So

 i say kudos to him.

It's not official until its official, but I agree, if true, kudos to Danny.

BTW, the Darko signing was one of the summer's best, IMHO.

[jdpapa3]

from NBA_photos on twitter.

[Evantime34]

Welcome aboard Shaq. Now let's move Sheed and we're ready to roll.

[FallGuy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5436289

Shaquille O'Neal has decided to join the Boston Celtics, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. He is expected to tell the team of his intentions Wednesday morning.


The length of the contract is not known, but O'Neal, who has been seeking a two-year deal, will play for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million annually.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers began pursuing O'Neal last month when the two met in Orlando. Boston and the Atlanta Hawks were the two clubs most interested in O'Neal, and sources say O'Neal chose the Celtics because he believes they have a better chance of winning what would be his fifth NBA championship.

O'Neal, 38, averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the Cavs' six-game loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 13.5 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes a game.

Although O'Neal is no longer the dominant force he was for most of his 18-year career, he will bolster a Celtics' front line that will be without injured starter Kendrick Perkins for the first few months of the season.

Earlier this summer, the Celtics added Jermaine O'Neal, signing the veteran center/power forward for the full mid-level exception of $5.7 million.

Comcast SportsNet-New England reported Tuesday that Shaquille O'Neal and the Celtics were close to agreeing to a deal. With Celtics general manager Danny Ainge out of town on vacation, an official news conference is expected to take place next week.

Well its official! Like it or not shaq will be a celtic next season. In an offseason full of crazy contracts and spending sprees this is a great price though.

In an offseason where dark milicic gets 5 million over 4 years. To come out of the offseason with Jermaine O'neal, Shaq, and Von Wafer with only the MLE at his disposal is a bit of a feat on danny's part. So

 i say kudos to him.

It's not official until its official, but I agree, if true, kudos to Danny.

BTW, the Darko signing was one of the summer's best, IMHO.

You sure about that Darko thing? Was anyone else bidding at all?

[beantownboy171]

from NBA_photos on twitter.

The a really cool pic. Gets me excited. even though he's miles from his prime i think this will get under the skin of laker fans.

[Chris]

from NBA_photos on twitter.

The a really cool pic. Gets me excited. even though he's miles from his prime i think this will get under the skin of laker fans.

I work with a Lakers fan...it already has.  But I am much more focused on the storyline he is looking to set up leading the old guard in trying to knock down the evil young triumvirate in Miami.  Shaq is going to play that up big time, and it is going to be epic.

[Kwhit10]

Chalk me up as excited.  Seriously getting a player like Shaq for the Vet. Min? What is not to like.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Chalk me up as excited.  Seriously getting a player like Shaq for the Vet. Min? What is not to like.

Bah! Humbug!

One of my least favorite all-time Lakers; age; questionable conditioning; ego; a loud-mouth, who's also the first one off of a sinking ship; burned bridges in Phoenix, Miami, L.A. and Orlando; lane clogging, pace slowing ball-stopper who doesn't guard the pick and roll or close out on shooters; Blue Chips; Kazaam.

[Bankshot]

Chalk me up as excited.  Seriously getting a player like Shaq for the Vet. Min? What is not to like.

Bah! Humbug!

One of my least favorite all-time Lakers; age; questionable conditioning; ego; a loud-mouth, who's also the first one off of a sinking ship; burned bridges in Phoenix, Miami, L.A. and Orlando; lane clogging, pace slowing ball-stopper who doesn't guard the pick and roll or close out on shooters; Blue Chips; Kazaam.

You like him less than Kobe?  Wow.

[Potapenko Boxout]

anyone who is against this signing has to be ignorant to the team's needs

[Bahku]

Chris Broussard report and video story here

[Evantime34]

Chalk me up as excited.  Seriously getting a player like Shaq for the Vet. Min? What is not to like.

Bah! Humbug!

One of my least favorite all-time Lakers; age; questionable conditioning; ego; a loud-mouth, who's also the first one off of a sinking ship; burned bridges in Phoenix, Miami, L.A. and Orlando; lane clogging, pace slowing ball-stopper who doesn't guard the pick and roll or close out on shooters; Blue Chips; Kazaam.

You like him less than Kobe?  Wow.

Did you really not like Blue Chips? Kazaam was a bad movie but it was so bad it's funny.
He looked to be in good shape on Kimmel the other night.
As far as clogging the lane he also does it on defense which is a good thing.

[beantownboy171]

This signings makin me hungryyyy


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXweq5wKOd8

[nickagneta]

In the off season before a major length lockout over the next CBA and because owners feel that the players are making to much money and because of competition they allow their GMs to severely overpay players, Danny Ainge is one of the few GMs out there that actually ran his off season like a team that feels players are getting way overpaid should run their team.

He arguably got Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Marquis Daniels, Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal and Von Wafer to sign at below market amounts for what their performance and skill level have been getting across the league.

If the C's have a big season and win it all, I sure hope he gets Executive of the year once again, though I believe Pat Riley will get it and than he should immediately give it to Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Lebron James because they did the real work in Miami.