Atlanta Hawks: Shaq said to choose Celtics over Hawks (UPDATE: Celtics announce Shaq signing)
It looks like Shaq is taking his power game to Boston.
Shaquille O’Neal won’t be suiting up for the Hawks.
Multiple media outlets reported last night that he was “close” to joining the Celtics, and the team announced today that it has signed O’Neal.
“It is not every day that you can add a player of Shaquille’s caliber to your team,” Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations, said in a statement released by the team. “His past experience speaks for itself and we believe that he is a great fit for our roster.”
O’Neal, 38, will play for his sixth NBA team in his 19th NBA season. He won three NBA championships with Los Angeles and another with Miami and now will seek another title with Boston, the defending Eastern Conference champion.
“I am honored to be joining the Celtics,” O’Neal said in the statement. “I have played against Paul [Pierce], Ray [Allen], Kevin [Garnett], Rajon [Rondo], and Jermaine [O'Neal] for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship.”
Shaq’s signing with Boston means the best center is off the free agent market as the Hawks look for another big man to join their frontcourt rotation. As it stands now, Atlanta has Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia and Jason Collins at center.
Last month Horford said the Hawks need to add an “impact” center and power forward Josh Smith agreed. Said Al: “We need to have someone to come in and have an impact. I think that is the position we need if we want to be any type of contender in the East.”
It doesn’t look like the Hawks will add that player in free agency even as the Eastern Conference has gotten tougher. Miami’s SuperFriends are in Atlanta’s division, Jermaine O’Neal and Shaq joined the Celtics, Chicago added Carlos Boozer and Andrew Bogut is set to return from injury for the Bucks.
It’s not that the Hawks are weak at center–Horford is an All-Star and Pachulia is an effective backup. But the big, physical frontlines of Boston and Orlando figure to be tough challenges for the Hawks in the playoffs.
Horford is undersized for center by NBA standards and Pachulia is not a big defensive post presence. Collins is a true 7-footer but he struggled with his conditioning last season and hasn’t been a rotation player for going on two years.
There don’t appear to be any “impact” centers left on the market after two waves of free-agent signings. Atlanta was said to have some mild interest in Kwame Brown, who could provide some post defense but is limited offensively. Other centers yet to sign include Josh Boone, Francisco Elson
and Brian Skinner.
The news that Shaq could join the Hawks created a buzz among Atlanta fans. All indications are that his interest in Atlanta was genuine.
He told friends early in free agency that he would be open to signing with the Hawks and one of his representatives contacted the team to gauge its interest, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. The Hawks were intrigued by Shaq but weren’t sure if he would be willing to accept a relatively small salary and a bench role as he nears the end of a career that will lead to his induction in the Hall of Fame.
Shaq’s initial contract demands were for a two-year deal that starts at $8 million, according to a person who talked to him about his plans. The Hawks, unwilling to exceed the luxury-tax threshold, weren’t willing to come close to that figure and eventually it became clear that no contending team would pay Shaq big money.
Boston is limited by salary cap rules to offering Shaq a contract starting at the veteran’s minimum salary of $1.35 million for a player with his experience. The Hawks could offer more by using salary-cap exceptions but weren’t willing to go much higher since their team salary is roughly $2.7 million below the luxury-tax threshold.
With the money being equal, Shaq apparently decided Boston gives him a better chance to earn another NBA championship.
MC
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323 comments Add your comment
terrell
August 5th, 2010
4:54 pm
Now rod, how can you say Skiles > Drew. when Drew hasn’t coached a game yet? Isn’t that a bit premature?
Big Ump
August 5th, 2010
4:58 pm
drmaryb:
Bloggers like you have in your mind that you know evertyhings. If you neeed to know anything about me than asked Don’t just sit there and pretend that I’m someone that you think I am I’m a 62 balck Male from the ATl. Been here all my life. I’m my own man and will always be. Been in sports all my life with Little League, High School, College and a 3 year stint in the MLB. I’m also a Viet Nam Veteran, married with 6 kids. Been with the same wife for 22 years. Back up key board for Sly and the Family Stones in the Seventies. Please just don’t sit on you “ss and talk about who you think I am. I couldn’t care less who you are, so do the same here. If you need more ask and don’t accuse unless you know what you talking about. Have a good day.
Big Ump
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
4:58 pm
The Hawks would not have beat the Celtic’s last year, nor will they beat them this year in a 7 game series. That regular season stuff means nothing. Again, better players, with a much better and more experienced coach. With the addition of Shaq, and J. O’Neal (two guys that Horford has no chance against in the post, we will get killed on the glass and Josh and Al will get in early foul trouble. We are not a great pick and roll team, so Shaq and J. O’neal will really help to clog up the lane agianst us. Nate off the bench, makes them a much better team also. Our only chance in a series agianst them would be if our guys can knock down open jumpshots (Marvin and Josh), and we already know the answer to that question based on the last two years in the playoffs.
O'Brien
August 5th, 2010
5:02 pm
Last year, the Hawks were one of the few teams that faced no adversity at all, as we were the healthiest team in the NBA. I just hope the injury bug leaves us alone again this year.
I think the Bulls and Bucks will be better this year, but head to head against the Hawks, I’ll take the Hawks.
As for the playoffs, I think the Hawks will have the 4th best record in the East. The 3 best records will be Miami, Orlando and Boston (IMO).
Which means the Hawks would play the #1 seed in the second round, which is where I think we will lose again (but we will be more competitive).
Rod,
I think Teague can do a decent job of keeping up with Jennings (if Teague learns not to commit a silly foul on the reach-in).
DSLANGA
August 5th, 2010
5:06 pm
another year of Atlanta getting put on in the playoffs. dang it….this time it will be in the first round though….man!!…..spent all that money on a choker johnson and have nothing to show for it….garbage….
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
5:08 pm
Sautee,
I remeber Al had pretty good games against Bogut, that’s why I said just as good as or better than. I would rate them about equal. Jennings and Redd actually compliment each other well, as Jennings loves to break down the defense, and Redd loves to spot up and shoot. Redd is alot like Joe in that he does not like to drive at all. I would have cringed all series last year if Jennings broke us down, we switched and Redd was wide open for 3. He might have averaged 30ppg against us.
DSLANGA
August 5th, 2010
5:10 pm
Man!! the east has all of these changes and the hawks are starting off with a first year head coach, we couldn’t even pick up a big man which what we have been needing for the longest…stupid idiots get rid of the coach that took them to almost the top and give johnson all of that money….Keep sorry behind UNC bust Marvin Williams on the squad…MARK MY WORDS, AL HORFORD WILL BE LEAVING THAT SQUAD SOON, HE WANTS TO WIN…
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
5:11 pm
O’Brien,
“I think Teague can do a decent job of keeping up with Jennings (if Teague learns not to commit a silly foul on the reach-in).”
Did Teague get quicker or faster this summer, because I remember Woody putting him in to guard Jennings in the playoffs, and Jennings ran by him like he was Bibby. The key is whether Teague will make Jennings work on the defensive end.
Sautee
August 5th, 2010
5:24 pm
Rod,
about this: “With the addition of Shaq, and J. O’Neal (two guys that Horford has no chance against in the post, we will get killed on the glass and Josh and Al will get in early foul trouble.”
FYI, here are the head to head games last year:
MIA 11/18:
JON: 12 pts 7 reb
AH: 16 pts 12 reb
CLE 12/29:
Shaq: 10 pts 8 reb
AH: 9 pts 9 reb
CLE 12/30:
Shaq: 11 pts 5 reb
AH: 10 pts 7 reb
MIA 2/10:
JON: 19 pts 10 reb
AH: 11 pts 10 reb
Totals:
VS MIA: JON: 31 pts 17 reb
AH: 27 pts 22 reb
VS CLE: SHAQ: 21 pts 13 reb
AH: 19 pts 16 reb
Rod, it looks to me like Horford did just fine on the glass against both O’Neals.
Perception is NOT reality.
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
5:24 pm
terrell,
Now rod, how can you say Skiles > Drew. when Drew hasn’t coached a game yet? Isn’t that a bit premature?
No. I’m not one who believes that Drew is the next coming of Phil Jackson. I personally don’t think that this motion (princeton) offense crap will be succesful, and we really don’t have any great ball handlers to run that type of offense. Our best ballhandlers are Joe and Jamal. Josh’s handles are suspect, Horford is robotic, Bibby barely dribbles after half court, Marvin can’t dribble more than three times, and Teague is a question mark. If his offense really is very similar to a Princeton offense, then I am really concerned because it won’t work in the NBA, and we have only Joe and Jamal who are knock down jum shooters. I have seen this new innovative offense crap in Atlanta before, and it did not end well. Falcon Fans remember the run and shoot with Glanville and June Jones. Skiles is proven and Drew is not, that makes him better until Drew proves himself.
northcyde
August 5th, 2010
5:43 pm
Rod . . . how dare you speak ill of Teague’s defense!! He is our Rajon Rondo. Our Deion Sanders. He’s our “shutdown corner” playing PG.
Forget the fact that he wasn’t known as a great defender or a true floor leader in college. No sir. He’s going to come right in and run the Hawks like he’s Kevin Johnson.
Bibby better have hinmself in tip top shape come October, just in case Jeff Teague isn’t even as good as Mike Conley.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 5th, 2010
5:55 pm
Big Ump
My bad then, I guess you haven’t posted in a while and probably are not aware of what Truth-Serum has been up to. But he jacked my I’d along with Grand-Dad and Sautee. The stuff he posþed under our names is so deplorable – I can’t even bear to repeat it. He did this for almost four weeks, but …
Sir, it got so bad? The blog administrator had to shut down the blog for almost
a week.
Big Ump, it sounded like a triple XXX porn-site. Very demoralizing stuff!
Maybe you missed out on all that, and I am glad you did.
Many of us stopped posting all together on here.
When, MC returned, he blocked Truth-Serum’s multiple IP addresses, because he blogs from public libraries, college campuses and who knows where else.
But as usual, he finds another IP address to stalk and harass from.
Maybe you see all the stuff he put oin here last night using
Mike Woodson’s name and typed: this blog is closed for repairs,
for almost two pages and 10,000 lines of it in caps.
MC deleted it around 1PM today. If you missed all that? Then good for you.
Anyway, I thought he was using your I’d because, I haven’t you post in a while on here, and I know he likes to jack I’d’s.
Nothing personal towards you and I’m sorry.
northcyde
August 5th, 2010
5:57 pm
Rod . . . the Princeton offense was supposed to make Philly better too. But it didn’t, and they fired Eddie Jordan before he could ever get his feet wet.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 5th, 2010
6:12 pm
Big Ump!
I just re-read your accomplishments! Pretty awesome stuff!
There is a lot of talent in that young body of yours!
MLB, Keyboards for SLY and Vietnam War Vet too? WOW!
I have a SLY album from the 70’s. Haven’t heard that group’s name in forever.
The Wife of 22 years and 6 kids, when do you sleep?
I have an Uncle who returned from Viet-Nam with schizophrenia and
murdered my Dad on Father’s Day in 1986. That was one crazy war.
Thanks for your service – Sir.
I truly meant no disrespect, Sir. Where the heck have you been for the past
few months? You missed all the FA action with the Hawks!
Hey, we re-signed Joe! LOL! I’m glad we at least did that.
Anyway, again, please accept my apology?
-smiles-
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
6:50 pm
Sautee,
You forgot to post the mpg, and if I recall Shaq and O’Neal were both injured and did not play for a lot of the season last year. Now, you also need to add in the fact that it will be O’Neal and Garnett in the paint rebounding against Horford and Josh. I’ll take O’Neal and Garnett. Also your stats from last year really don’t mean much. There is really no need to even compare Shaq and Horford in any way, and the best comparision for J.Oneal and Horford would probably be the 08-09 playoff series against Miami where they played similar minutes (about 27 min per), head to head. J’Oneal averaged 16ppg, 5.4 rpg (missed two games), and Horford (missed one game)averaged 8.6ppg and 6rpg.
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
6:55 pm
Sautee,
Or what if they decide to play, Shaq, J.O. and Garnett together. I don’t think Garnett will have a problem guarding Marvin (LOL). Will Al still hold his own in the post?
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2010
7:01 pm
Sautee,
“Rod,
about this: “With the addition of Shaq, and J. O’Neal (two guys that Horford has no chance against in the post, we will get killed on the glass and Josh and Al will get in early foul trouble.”
Also, when I say killed in the post, I am talking about Al having to guard those bigger guy with above average post moves on the block.
Sautee
August 5th, 2010
7:13 pm
Rod,
I’ll go back and check the mpg. But in the Miami series Horford was injured (in Game 3, I think and his numbers reflected trying to play injured). So you can throw out those numbers. I also threw out one game where JON only played 11 min. before re-injuring his knee.
Why do you say there’s no need to compare Shaq and Horford? Your statement was that we would be “killed on the glass” against him. Does that not invite rebounding comparisons?
O'Brien
August 5th, 2010
7:20 pm
Rod,
With rondo at the point, i think the celtics have good defense at the perimeter. However, One potential issue for the Celtics is the loss of thibodeau. He was their defensive guru.
Although I like drew, I am cautiously optimistic about his new offense.
Sautee
August 5th, 2010
7:33 pm
Rod,
Well, as you can tell, I’m one or more posts behind you. Thanks for the clarification. As far as fouls go, Al was only in anything like foul trouble once in those four games (admittedly a small sample), but overall, playing all year against bigger centers, he only fouled out of one regular season game and one playoff game. I just don’t see fouls being a big concern with him. Also, we can hope that LD will let the players play in the second quarter with two fouls, unlike Woody.
Now here are the MPG:
VS MIA: JON: 33:15
AH 37:30
VS CLE:
SHAQ: 23:15
AH: 32:30
A valid point, more about Shaq than JON.
doc
August 5th, 2010
7:57 pm
nire fear the deer dude, they might be the surprise team after one year of slikes and the additions of injured players. we didnt waltz on them last year even when they were limited in the losses of bogut and redd who has always performed well against us. drew better be good.
sautee,my first thought was to ask about mpg, guess rod got it clarified and the distribution was favorable to horford.i am not an jon fan but thin the combo will be adequate until perkins comes back then they have three centers alone to our three proven post players and zaza is not the eqivalent to shaq, jon or perkins, he just isnt. i cant believe folks wont see this unless shaq and jon weunt cripple this summer when no one was watching.
Ken Strickland
August 5th, 2010
8:35 pm
Everyone seems overly critical of Sund and the ASG for bringing back the same players. What none of you seem to realize is although we’ll basically have the same players, collectively we won’t be the same TEAM.
Having a new HC, 2 new assistants, or DEF specialists if you will, a structured half court OFF, a different approach to DEF, a commitment to running, and accountability with no favoritism, are the new ingredients that will make this yrs Hawks new and improved.
I’m done trying to explain to most of you GLASS HALF EMPTY fans why the Hawks won’t fall apart or below the 3rd seed. You act like our Hawks are the only team that can or will be affected by potential injuries, or certain teams potentially getting better, or having a new HC, or OFF/DEF systems, or an inexperienced PG. Everyone raved about the Hornets and Bucks rookie PG’s. Basically, the only difference between them and what they were able to accomplish, compared to JTeague, is they played for HC’s who weren’t cowards with stupid hangups against rookie PG’s.
Therefore, they got a chance to show what they could do, while Teague was never given that chance. We could just as easily see the same dynamic product from him this yr under HC LDrew. Whenever Teague was given consistent mins and allowed to play without having to look over his shoulder, like during preseason gms, the last gm of the season against Cleveland, and summer league, he’s excelled.
All of you can continue with your doubts and fears about the Hawks. I believe we made our biggest improvement as a team by way of subtraction and addition. -MWoodson, -ISO, -Switching DEF, -Rookie PG bias, -limited bench use, + LDrew + LConnor + Gattison, +structured motion OFF, +tradition DEF, + player accountability, + commitment to running + extensive bench use ETC.
Sautee
August 5th, 2010
9:38 pm
doc,
“zaza is not the eqivalent to shaq, jon or perkins, he just isnt. ”
I agree, as we’ve discussed more than a time or two.