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

[WeMadeIt17]

can somebody put a link to the picture everyone is talking about.. For somereason I cant see it?

[indeedproceed]

This is really the best possible outcome. 1 year, vet min, we retain sheed's contract, and we keep out flexibility going forward.

Awesome.

[Chris]

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.

So lets see.  This offseason we saw bargain contracts signed by:

Miami (pretty much the whole team is making less than market value)
Boston (not far behind)
Lakers (they probably paid market for Blake, but got very good value in Barnes)
Spurs (Splitter's contract may be the best value deal of the summer)

And I can't think of any other good contracts signed this summer.  It just shows you how winning leads to more winning, which tells me that Danny's decision to go for it again was the right decision, even if the goal is in rebuilding the team.

[manl_lui]

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.

I agree, Danny did a great job this offseason, we saved ourselves a lot of money, while Miami basically has almost no money to sign others, we will dominate the 4 and 5 area,

with KG and JO and BBD on Bosh, hes basically is canceled out, what big 3? and he cant guard KG or Shaq

the centers they have aren't really great Haslem and Big Z? i mean big Z might have a few points judging hes not bad of a jump shooter, but hes wont get easy points in the paint

Ray Ray will outrun Wade, i expect the scores between the two will be close

Pierce will have some problem as we saw in the Cle series

our bench will step up big time against their bench

whos their guard? Chalmers? yeh Rondo and Nate will straight up own him...

we will determine how Bradley will fit in, if hes really a defender like people really say he is, then I like our chances against Miami

[Donoghus]

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.

So lets see.  This offseason we saw bargain contracts signed by:

Miami (pretty much the whole team is making less than market value)
Boston (not far behind)
Lakers (they probably paid market for Blake, but got very good value in Barnes)
Spurs (Splitter's contract may be the best value deal of the summer)

And I can't think of any other good contracts signed this summer.  It just shows you how winning leads to more winning, which tells me that Danny's decision to go for it again was the right decision, even if the goal is in rebuilding the team.

It's certainly there for the taking and Danny did a magnificant job in recognizing it and taking this approach.

Health is, by far, the biggest question mark for this team. Stay healthy and I like their chances a lot.

[Greenbean]

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.

So lets see.  This offseason we saw bargain contracts signed by:

Miami (pretty much the whole team is making less than market value)
Boston (not far behind)
Lakers (they probably paid market for Blake, but got very good value in Barnes)
Spurs (Splitter's contract may be the best value deal of the summer)

And I can't think of any other good contracts signed this summer.  It just shows you how winning leads to more winning, which tells me that Danny's decision to go for it again was the right decision, even if the goal is in rebuilding the team.

It's certainly there for the taking and Danny did a magnificant job in recognizing it and taking this approach.

Health is, by far, the biggest question mark for this team. Stay healthy and I like their chances a lot.

Exactly. Assuming health, we just created some serious matchup problems with the Heat. They are thin down low. We are now old, but very deep if KP can round into form by april. None of these guys will be over extended and they all seem ready to fill roles and win banner 18.

[Rashi]

This is great news !! Shaq for the vet min can't go wrong.


Props to DA. I knew patience with him would pay off well.

[kozlodoev]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

[Chris]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

OK, first of all, everyone needs to stop with the ignorant stuff.  We all have opinions here, no ones is more valid than anyone else's.

But, I am curious what you think the team's needs are?

Personally, I am not a huge fan of the fit with Shaq, but I simply can't argue with getting that level of talent for the vet minimum.  It is an incredibly low risk, high reward proposition. 

[guava_wrench]

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

I was not for a trade where he would be paid full MLE type money, but Shaq for the vet min seems a no-brainer to me.

Even with his decline, he is still someone who can post deep while exhausting little energy compared to KG doing the same thing. He can also pass from the post.

[hpantazo]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

how? A veterean rebounding big man who can score in the paint for the vet min, how can you go wrong with that? Especially when alternatives where Kwame Brown or Semih Erden.

[guava_wrench]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

With Perk iffy, another physical center on a cheap contract was definitely a need.

[celts55]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

I personally think the teams biggest need at this point is a BIG man in the middle, with Perkens out. While you may not like Shaq it's hard to argue that he's big and still had pretty desent numbers in limited minutes in Cleveland last year. I wondering what you think is a bigger need or who they could sign for the vet minimum that would be a better fit?

[kozlodoev]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

OK, first of all, everyone needs to stop with the ignorant stuff.  We all have opinions here, no ones is more valid than anyone else's.

But, I am curious what you think the team's needs are?

Personally, I am not a huge fan of the fit with Shaq, but I simply can't argue with getting that level of talent for the vet minimum.  It is an incredibly low risk, high reward proposition. 

The primary team need was a long, mobile defender, who can set solid picks keep the ball moving on offense, and give you solid 15 minutes per game. Pretty much everything Shaq is not at this stage of his career.

As a 1-year, vet min deal, Shaq's signing is tolerable because it doesn't set us back. But I suspect a lot of people will be underwhelmed with the outcome, based on their current reaction.

[Greenbean]

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

Anyone who is FOR that signing is ignorant to the team's needs.

OK, first of all, everyone needs to stop with the ignorant stuff.  We all have opinions here, no ones is more valid than anyone else's.

But, I am curious what you think the team's needs are?

Personally, I am not a huge fan of the fit with Shaq, but I simply can't argue with getting that level of talent for the vet minimum.  It is an incredibly low risk, high reward proposition. 

The primary team need was a long, mobile defender, who can set solid picks keep the ball moving on offense, and give you solid 15 minutes per game. Pretty much everything Shaq is not at this stage of his career.

As a 1-year, vet min deal, Shaq's signing is tolerable because it doesn't set us back. But I suspect a lot of people will be underwhelmed with the outcome, based on their current reaction.

Who is this guy you speak of? Is he available, and for the vet minimum?