Shaq Signs One-Year Deal With Celtics

[K-State Spur]

I guess you don't read much more than outside of this forum. He had cut it down to the Hawks and the Spurs but he wanted more than the $2.6 million left on our mid-level and more playing time.

Link that shows that Pop/RC extended an offer?

I can say that I've cut it down the Spurs and Mavs, doesn't mean that I'm close to signing with either.

[Leetonidas]

Shaq was never coming to the Spurs, and resigning Bonner and adding Splitter only solidified that. He wanted more than 2.6 million and more playing time, yet he signed with a team stacked at the PF/C positions and took the minimum. Dude, you don't know , get the over yourself. While backseat moderating is ing lame, acting like you know some inside information and getting all offended when people tell you this isn't Spurs related and Shaq was never even remotely close to signing with the Spurs makes you look like a huge asswipe.

[SenorSpur]

He said on Jimmy Kimmel or whatever that he has 2 years left...why sign for one year?

I would imagine it's because the C's were not willing to "ante up" a 2nd year to his fatness.

[SenorSpur]

Thank god. No more Shaq threads.

^ this

[8FOR!3]

Shaquille O'Neal 2000 All-Star
Kevin Garnett 2000 All-Star | Jermaine O'Neal 2002 All-Star
Paul Pierce 2002 All-Star
Ray Allen 2000 All-Star | Michael Finley 2000 All-Star

LOL 10 years ago called and they want their NBA all star teams back...

[silverblackfan]

Great news! Celts needed extra baggage and the we don't have to deal with the Shaq rumors anymore. I would have hated him in a Spurs uniform.

[rmt]

So instead he goes to the Celts, where he'll have virtually no PT and signed for the vet minimum. Right.

Shaq wants his 5th ring. He doesn't care about regular season PT or money. The Celtics gives him his best chance at #5 playing with the only true elite contender with whom he hasn't as yet burned his bridges.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Glad he's not coming here. For vet min it's not a terrible signing for a team that could have to face the Magic in the postseason. If he can stay healthy enough to do the Horry thing where he plays himself into something resembling game shape in the second half of the season he's one of the few people in the league with the overall physical mass to at least try to box out Dwight Howard.

And if the cookie crumbles in the other direction and all the age and injuries turn the Celtics into a struggling team and Shaq turns into a locker room problem then there's not much lost in just waiving him.

[phxspurfan]

Glad he's not coming here. For vet min it's not a terrible signing for a team that could have to face the Lakers in the postseason. If he can stay healthy enough to do the Horry thing where he plays himself into something resembling game shape in the second half of the season he's one of the few people in the league with the overall physical mass to at least try to box out Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

And if the cookie crumbles in the other direction and all the age and injuries turn the Spurs into a struggling team and Shaq turns into a locker room problem then there's not much lost in just waiving him.

All those args seem to work for the Spurs too...


But I guess Splitter will do all those things as well *shrug*

[silverblackfan]

Glad he's not coming here. For vet min it's not a terrible signing for a team that could have to face the Magic in the postseason. If he can stay healthy enough to do the Horry thing where he plays himself into something resembling game shape in the second half of the season he's one of the few people in the league with the overall physical mass to at least try to box out Dwight Howard.

And if the cookie crumbles in the other direction and all the age and injuries turn the Celtics into a struggling team and Shaq turns into a locker room problem then there's not much lost in just waiving him.

Shaq waived. That would be a first. Even that would be entertaining, as I doubt he would go quietly into the night...

[Muser]

All those args seem to work for the Spurs too...


But I guess Splitter will do all those things as well *shrug*

Shaq would just eat up minutes and hinder Splitters transition to the NBA. Splitter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Old man Shaq.

[phxspurfan]

Shaq would just eat up minutes and hinder Splitters transition to the NBA. Splitter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Old man Shaq.

Yeah makes sense; I forgot that Pop's lineup shuffling all these years would force Tiago to Splitt his minutes.

[gospursgojas]

Team #6 for Shaq...what a joke

[Cane]

Good move for a team out East since Shaq can still frustrate and defend Dwight Howard, especially for the Celtics since Sheed could be out in addition to Perkin's injury recovery.

Wouldn't like him as a Spur since Tiago and Blair need all the minutes they can get but for a 1 year vet-min it would've been interesting.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

When has Shaq ever benefited any team post 2006?

Every franchise he leaves is often in ruins. I understand why the Celtics signed up, and at least they don't try to play uptempo like the Suns did, so this should suit him more. But, they already got rid of one lazy player (Sheed), no need for another.

[Blackjack]

PDcavsinsider

Shaq got what he wanted, well sorta. Got his two-year deal with Celtics. But just for vet minimum, $2.8 million total. Hoped for $10 mill.

[alchemist]

vet min = Spurs failed

even at this age. Shaq >>>> Bonner

[chrisrod2008]

I would take Shaq any day over Bonner. A center should be able to rebound and block shots and Bonner can't do either. The only reason he is on the team is because he runs the plays exactly how Pop wants it done. His only attribute is his 3 point shot and when that is not on he is a waaste of space out there.

[K-State Spur]

vet min = Spurs failed

even at this age. Shaq >>>> Bonner

Serve different roles. Bonner may not be particularly good at his - but Shaq and him don't occupy the same spots on the floor.

Shaq is also one of the few players in the league who makes Bonner look like a great defender.

[ajh18]

I would take Shaq any day over Bonner. A center should be able to rebound and block shots and Bonner can't do either. The only reason he is on the team is because he runs the plays exactly how Pop wants it done. His only attribute is his 3 point shot and when that is not on he is a waaste of space out there.

The problem is that Shaq isnt a replacement for Bonner in terms of playing time. Shaq would get playing time when the Spurs need a rebounder and some low-post scoring, and can afford to give up points in the post.

When we need mobility defensively, we have splitter.
When we need rebounding and questionable defense, we have blair.
When we need a decent all-around player who can play the high post, we have 'dysse.
When we need outside, stretch-shooting, we have bonner.

I dont want shaq taking time from any of the ppl whose skills he can actually replace. As for the others (Bonner) he wouldnt be playing in those moments anyway (or shouldnt be). He is also a tremendous liability on the pick and roll, and clogs the lane when on offense. His best role on our team would probably be to spell duncan.

[chrisrod2008]

What do we need right now.....what Shaq can offer or what little if any Bonner can offer. In the playoffs they left Bonner wide open and doubled Tim because he wasn't hitting the broad side of a barn.

[L.I.T]

Just to clarify, most posters during the offseason and last season were complaining about vets getting preferential treatment in terms of playing time over the young guns.

Now Blair and Splitter are likely in line for big minutes next season and some fans are complaining that the Spurs didn't sign an over-the-hill, injury-prone Shaq?

By the way, this has nothing to do with Shaq vs. Bonner. Bonner has a specific role in the Spurs system (as painful as it may be to say). Shaq would have taken minutes away from Blair and potentially Splitter. That I would not want to see.

Good luck to the Big Baked Bean and the Celtics.

[alchemist]

Just to clarify, most posters during the offseason and last season were complaining about vets getting preferential treatment in terms of playing time over the young guns.

Now Blair and Splitter are likely in line for big minutes next season and some fans are complaining that the Spurs didn't sign an over-the-hill, injury-prone Shaq?

By the way, this has nothing to do with Shaq vs. Bonner. Bonner has a specific role in the Spurs system (as painful as it may be to say). Shaq would have taken minutes away from Blair and potentially Splitter. That I would not want to see.

Good luck to the Big Baked Bean and the Celtics.

Blair? Gasol/Bynum pair will eat the guy alive because he's undersized. Shaq is a huge body and even at this age the guy is pretty much unmovable, that's something you cannot get from Bonner/Blair even Splitter.

[PuttPutt]

The Big Shamrock.

[L.I.T]

Blair? Gasol/Bynum pair will eat the guy alive because he's undersized. Shaq is a huge body and even at this age the guy is pretty much unmovable, that's something you cannot get from Bonner/Blair even Splitter.

You're right. He pretty much is immovable.

I would much rather see Blair/Splitter playing than Shaq. There are approximately 96 minutes to divvy up between PF/C. There is no way Shaq plays PF, but for the sake of the argument we will include him.

Last season Blair played 18 minutes, Dice 21, Duncan 31 minutes and Bonner 18 minutes (about 8 too many) for a total of 88 minutes. The rest was some likely unholy version of small ball. With the addition of Splitter and the hoped for increase in minutes of Blair, there aren't a lot of minutes to go around.

I do agree that the Spurs could do with some more size up front, defensive size and some mobility. A 6th big if you will. Shaq does not fit that role.