Is Shaq a good fit for the Celts?

[JoeSixPat]

ESPN reports that the Celts are one of the teams strongly considering adding Shaq.

We know that Atlanta's made an offer of the mid level exception - one that the Celts could match - of $5.8 million for 2 years. His stats look like he'd provide some help without Perkins - 23 minutes, 12 points 7 rebounds a game.

Yet I still can't help but feel he'd not be a good match here - aside from the fact that he'd be 40 at the end of the contract.

Any thoughts?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

One of this team's big needs are bench rebounding and inside scoring. Shaq provides both of these. I don't like the 2 year deal though, I'd take him for a year with the mid-level. Even at age 40 I think he can give 15 minutes, 9 points, 6 rebounds a game, which is what we need.

 

[captain insano]

with sheed retiring{maybe} and perk out for a long time i say why not? sign the big paluka.

 

[Boston Boxer]

he is better than Kwame Brown...who we are meeting with in Orlando tomorrow.

 

[Urgent]

Celtics just signed their 2008 second-rounder, the Turkish center.
They clearly need depth.
Shaq presumably offers more than a Turkish league big man.

 

[Boston Boxer]

an even better O'Neil is interested in the Celtics and the feeling is mutual. Jermaine O'Neil sounds like a fine Irish name to me...what say you?

 

[Real World]

Meh. This team needs more than Shaq via the mid level exception. Isn't Marcus Camby a free agent? I could have sworn he is. How come no talk about him? He's a beast on the glass, and in the defensive end. This team also needs bench scoring. Specifically, someone who can create their own offense off the dribble, and score. In the finals their offense looks extremely stagnant, and to jumper oriented. A legit, 6th man, scoring win would be ideal.

Instead of Shaq, I'd toss the Vet minimum at guys like Robert Swift ( I believe he's unrestricted) and Kwame Brown, while splitting the mid level to sign a bench scorer, and a veteran big, like Jermaine O'neil (who I despise!). This team doesn't have much flexibility, so it has to use the few resources it has, wisely. Moving Sheed's retired deal for a sign and trade player, or an existing vet under contract, will be important as well.

 

[Boston Boxer]

good call Real...i like Marcus Camby. We need a rebounder and defensive big man in the middle. He fits the bill and would have been a great back up to Perk last year. We are really handcuffed money wise, so we can only hope for the best.

Scorer of the bench...if Tony Allen could shoot a jump shot he would be perfect. He is a great defender and he is a beast off the dribble...just needs a consistant jump shot. As of right now, he cant even hit the open jumper.

 

[Run DMC]

ESPN reports that the Celts are one of the teams strongly considering adding Shaq.

We know that Atlanta's made an offer of the mid level exception - one that the Celts could match - of $5.8 million for 2 years. His stats look like he'd provide some help without Perkins - 23 minutes, 12 points 7 rebounds a game.

Yet I still can't help but feel he'd not be a good match here - aside from the fact that he'd be 40 at the end of the contract.

Any thoughts?

Please God, NO!

 

[ausbacker]

Tis on twitter that the Miami Herald is reporting Jermaine O'Neal to the Celtics is as good as done. Not sure what I think about this.

 

[Run DMC]

This guy got paid 23 mill last year and is willing to take vet min. in order to contend. I definitely like it.

 

[Real World]

good call Real...i like Marcus Camby. We need a rebounder and defensive big man in the middle. He fits the bill and would have been a great back up to Perk last year. We are really handcuffed money wise, so we can only hope for the best.

Scorer of the bench...if Tony Allen could shoot a jump shot he would be perfect. He is a great defender and he is a beast off the dribble...just needs a consistant jump shot. As of right now, he cant even hit the open jumper.

Crap, apparently Camby signed a 2 year extension with Portland, for $20 million. Doh!

 

[JoeSixPat]

Tis on twitter that the Miami Herald is reporting Jermaine O'Neal to the Celtics is as good as done. Not sure what I think about this.

I like this much much more than Shaq

Nothing against Shaq - his numbers were still good in limited minutes, but with Perkins out until December (at least) we need someone who can play more minutes, likely being spelled by whoever else can carve out a spot on the roster

O'Neal is a shell of the player he was, but he's still good enough and young enough to take some significant minutes and can produce what we need in that time

With Shaq, I'd say he'd be a fit if Perkins were healthy and you could limit Shaq's playing time to conserve him for the playoffs. That's not an option with Perkins out unfortunately.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Celtics nab Jermaine O'Neal - Celtics Blog - Boston.com

 

[Real World]

Wow, the full MLE? Ouch. I thought he was coming for a portion of it, or maybe even the veteran minimum. Oh well.

 

[Kontradiction]

As someone that watched Jermaine O'Neal a good bit last year, he'll be good to play some minutes at center until Perkins comes back. With that said, he should not be relied on to be a competent starting center for the entire season. He's unbelievably soft, often gets out-wrestled for rebounds, and misses easy shots (including layups). On top of that, he has a knack for getting into foul trouble early, but so does Shaq. Once Perkins is back, O'Neal will be a good guy to have off the bench but he's going to cause you guys to slam your heads off the wall quite a bit while he sees time as the starter.

 

[Boston Boxer]

As someone that watched Jermaine O'Neal a good bit last year, he'll be good to play some minutes at center until Perkins comes back. With that said, he should not be relied on to be a competent starting center for the entire season. He's unbelievably soft, often gets out-wrestled for rebounds, and misses easy shots (including layups). On top of that, he has a knack for getting into foul trouble early, but so does Shaq. Once Perkins is back, O'Neal will be a good guy to have off the bench but he's going to cause you guys to slam your heads off the wall quite a bit while he sees time as the starter.

for a minute, i thought you were talking about Perk Perks plays great D, other than that he provides nothing and gets into fould trouble every game. This is my opinion of course. O'Neil is a good stop gap until Perk gets back...then they will be a great 1-2 punch spelling each other.

 

[efin98]

for a minute, i thought you were talking about Perk Perks plays great D, other than that he provides nothing and gets into fould trouble every game. This is my opinion of course. O'Neil is a good stop gap until Perk gets back...then they will be a great 1-2 punch spelling each other.

They average the same number of fouls per game- 2.8 to 2.9 per game over their careers. Their rebounding is in favor of Perkins but not by enough to worry too much.

Perk has one thing that O'Neal may not have- his attitude. At least not anymore. Perkins has shot up in number of technical fouls while O'Neal has gone down in his number.

 

[Boston Boxer]

ya, i think Perk needs to mature (keep forgetting he is still young, seems like he has been around forever) and i think O'Niel has grown up a bit over the last few years. I think it is a good deal and will be nice when Perk is healthy and O'Neil comes off the bench

 

[captain insano]

I'm not a Jermain o'neal fan at all. i think hes a quitter and makes sheed look like a max effort guy. i would have taken shaq. hell i would rather have brad miller. i dont know what they see in jermain.