Sources: Shaquille O'Neal to Boston (Seeking two-year deal with the Celtics at minimum $1.4M)

ESPN ^ | 08/04/2010 | Chris Broussard

[SeekAndFind]

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.

[vbmoneyspender]

Shaq is just itching to beat Kobe in the finals.

[Charles Henrickson]

Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal. . . . All these Irish guys going to the Celtics. Makes sense.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

Did anyone see Shaq vs. last night?

This guy is a real ham and I loved it when he challenged the young girl in the spelling bee competition. Great stuff!!

[nhwingut]

Great move... if you’re trying to become the oldest team in the NBA! Was Bill Russell not available?

[OldDeckHand]

"Shaq is just itching to beat Kobe in the finals."

No question. Shaq is one of the most overrated players in the history of overrated players. And like so many other "greats" of the last 20 years, he only managed to win a title when Michael Jordan wasn't playing.

[Psalm 73]

I remember when Artis Gilmore went to the Celtics for the last year (or so) of his career - they didn't need the old A-Train for 40 minutes a night, just 15 shot-blocking minutes a night.
Good move for Ainge and his Celtics - Shaq isn't really one of those Gangsta-rapper thugs that populate most of the NBA.

[SeekAndFind]

I saw portions of Shaq challenging the National Spelling Bee champ.

Shaq does not really need to work, what with his hundreds of millions and his endorsements galore.

But if he wants a second career, definitely, acting should be something he must consider. He has this natural comedic flair about him.

[misterrob]

I think he’s itching to beat his ass in whatever dark alley he can find available as well.....

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"definitely, acting should be something he must consider"

Not race car driving. He drives like an old lady!!!

[Marathoner]

Shaq does seem like a good guy. I remember him buying the LAPD a replacement squad car after one was destroyed during one of the Laker title "celebrations".

Also, I remember seeing his press conference when he signed with Miami a few years ago, and how he was so happy and felt like the president that he starting humming Hail to the Chief.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Shaq isn’t really one of those Gangsta-rapper thugs that populate most of the NBA.

---

Shaq looks like he has his screws on tight.

According to Wikipedia...

O’Neal left LSU for the NBA after three years. However, he promised his mother he would eventually return to his studies and complete his bachelor’s degree. He fulfilled that promise in 2000, earning his bachelor of arts degree.

Coach Phil Jackson let O’Neal miss a home game so he could attend graduation. At the ceremony, he told the crowd “now I can go and get a real job”.

Subsequently, O’Neal earned an MBA online through the University of Phoenix in 2005. In reference to his completion of his MBA degree, he stated:

“ It’s just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else.

Also, O’Neal has maintained a high level of interest in the workings of the police department and has become personally involved in law enforcement.

O’Neal went through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Reserve Academy and became a reserve officer with the L.A. Port Police. He is seen in a commercial for ESPN in Miami Police garb climbing up a tree to rescue LSU’s costumed mascot Mike the Tiger.

[Above My Pay Grade]

He really was not a contemporary of Jordan. Their careers only overlapped for 5 year, unless you count Jordan's comeback with Washington, but then you have to give Shaq credit for 1 title while MJ was in the league.

Shaq, while obviously not as great as Jordan, was a great player. He won 4 titles and for his first 11 years, he was one of the most dominant centers in NBA history.

That said, if he had stayed in better shape and learned to shoot free throws (which any 12 year old girl can do), he would have been much better.

He probably should have retired after he won his 4th title in 2006. That was the last season that he was truly an effective player.

He might help the Celtics a little, though, assuming he knows his role and is willing to play it.

[Retired Greyhound]

Maybe not a “gangsta” rapper, but...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnjHXm7sgXY

[SeekAndFind]

if he had stayed in better shape and learned to shoot free throws (which any 12 year old girl can do), he would have been much better.

Hack-a-Shaq was a well known strategy used during close games in the final minutes tot ake advantage of Shaq's penchant for missing foul shots.

Another dominant big guy who was not a good foul shooter was Wilt Chamberlain ( but when he scored 100 points in one game, I believe he made 24 of 25 foul shots ).

Speaking of foul shooting, I believe there are two guys in NBA history with Unique foul shooting styles ( both excellent foul shooters ).

One was Hal Greer, who ALWAYS does a jump shot when he shoots foul throws.

The other was Ric Barry ( one of the greatest foul shooters in history ). He throws the ball with two hands ( UNDERHANDED SHOOTING ).

I haven't seen anybody else shoot from the foul line the way Barry does.

[SeekAndFind]

Maybe Shaq should learn to do foul throws the Ric Barry way :

[exhaustguy]

I was thinking more like Bill Walton who gave the Celtics great minutes in those classic Celtics/Lakers match ups in the 1980s.

At $1.4M he is well worth a roster spot. Hope he gets a chance to stuff a Kobe shot down his throat.

I was a Lakers fan until Kobe.

[daniel boob]

Celtics will need to get past Miami to see LA. That is questionable.

[daniel boob]

Celtics will need to get past Miami to see LA. That is questionable.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The other was Ric Barry ( one of the greatest foul shooters in history ). He throws the ball with two hands ( UNDERHANDED SHOOTING ).

Barry had a radio talk-show here in the Bay Area several years ago, when Shaq was in his prime. Barry mentioned that he thought the underhand free throw would have been ideal for Shaq and could have made a real difference in his game. Barry stated he'd offered to teach it to Shaq, who'd dismissed the offer with some insulting comment about how silly it looked. Too may players worry more about looking good than playing good.