Hawks dropped the ball on not signing Shaq
Shaquille O'Neal squares off with Justin Bieber, who I think is playing center for the Hawks next season. (Orlando Sentinel)
The Hawks want to believe they’re knocking on the door of the NBA’s elite. This is confirmation that they’re not.
Shaquille O’Neal is expected to sign with the Boston Celtics for the NBA veterans’ minimum salary of $1.4 million per season. For O’Neal, who was determined to try to play for up to two more seasons with the hopes of winning another league title, this means one of two things:
♦ Either Shaq doesn’t view the Hawks as being that close to a title (certainly behind Boston, Orlando and Miami in the Eastern Conference), or . ..
♦ The Hawks don’t believe that O’Neal does anything for them. Because for all of the smoke coming out of the organization that O’Neal wanted way too much money or was demanding way too many minutes or even a starting role, the fact is that he’s going to Boston for a bench spot and NBA pocket change.
ESPN reported Boston coach Doc Rivers, “began pursuing O’Neal last month when the two met in Orlando … and sources say O’Neal chose the Celtics [over the Hawks] because he believes they have a better chance of winning what would be his fifth NBA championship.”
There you go.
The Hawks can be an entertaining team. But they’re also a flawed one. Signing Josh Powell and Jason Collins doesn’t cure their size problem in the post. Al Horford is playing out of position. This decision more likely ensures that they again will be the No. 4 playoff seed in the East and exit in the second round.
How much of this is the result of money? A lot. Ownership and general manager Rick Sund did not want to go into a tax situation with the salary cap. That meant not doing anything of significance to improve the team in free agency this offseason (other than overpaying to keep Joe Johnson).
There are obvious issues with O’Neal, not the least of which are age and weight. But he can still play and provide valuable minutes off the bench, at both ends of the floor. He also would have taken some of the media attention off of Johnson (in a good way) in the locker room. Marketing-wise, of course, he would’ve been a bonanza.
But now it appears he will be a Celtic. The Hawks will point out that they defeated Boston four times in the regular season. Shaq would point out that the Celtics reached the NBA finals (losing in seven games to the Lakers) while the Hawks were swept in the second round (after being taken seven games by Milwaukee in round one). Checkmate.
♦
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160 comments Add your comment
Big D
August 5th, 2010
3:18 pm
Shaq wanted 6M/yr for 2 years, 1st year a guarantee the 2nd a team option as well guarantee to be the starter at C. Thats a bargain in todays NBA.
Shaq could easily dominate ANY of the Hawks bigs, which is more incriminating on the Hawks bigs
Bill Walton
August 5th, 2010
4:15 pm
Why would anyone want to play for the Hawks? One of the worst franchises in NBA history. Flawed? they are a bunch of wanna be one on one look at me players.
Mark
August 5th, 2010
5:57 pm
Sorry, Jeff, but I think you got it wrong this time. Does Shaq have some talent left? Yes, but not 2 years worth. Does he bring size & smarts? Absolutely! However, after moving from Atlanta to S. Florida about 8 years ago, I watched the Heat get Shaq & win the championship with him (after he ran off 1 coach for Pat Riley). Then I watched him destroy the team. Remember, the Heat went from champions to a 15-win team in nothing flat. Could Shaq have helped the Hawks? Absolutely! Could he have destroyed the team? Absolutely! It wasn’t worth the gamble. And I don’t think Riley will be walking through the Hawks door anytime soon. He has put together a nice team down here. Should keep him busy.
MitchC
August 5th, 2010
10:06 pm
Jeff, if Shaq wants a chance to win a title now, one can understand why he signed with the Celts. As we know, Boston won it all in 2008, and went to the seventh game of the Finals this year. Unless the Lakers wanted him back, Shaq couldnt have made a better move.
As for the Hawks: Yes, we know they overpayed to keep Joe Johnson, but they almost had to. I think you’re probably right about them being no better than the number four team in the conference. Personally, I think either Boston or Miami, and I’m leaning toward Miami because of Wade and James, is going to win the East. The Hawks? They will probably be what they usually are. 50 wins, and bye bye in the second round, as you said.
It’s unfortunate that the Hawks cant get over the “we are good but not good enough” hump. I dont see this team ever being much better than they currently are.
Eric Hinske goes bald (and then goes deep) in Braves' win | Jeff Schultz
August 5th, 2010
11:27 pm
[...] ♦ Hawks dropped the ball on not signing Shaq [...]
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
August 7th, 2010
8:41 pm
I agree with Ms Dee and Niremetal. This team excelled with a Woody at the helm and some of weakest excuses for offensive and defensive schemes in the history of the sport. One can assume or at least look forward to improvements just by spreading the spreading the floor, moving the ball more and up tempo play.
HawkKingBibby
August 8th, 2010
5:43 pm
Roses are RED Violets are BLUE The Hawks are CHEAP
Barry
August 10th, 2010
8:46 am
Hey Y’all:
Hell Yeah, WE MORE THAN DROPPED THE BALL WITH SHAQ. This management team and Rick Sund showed they do not know a damn thing about basketball and winning. WE NEED A CENTER!!!!POINT BLANK!!! And Shaq is the best center out there even in his elder state which is not old at all. This management team “SUCK!!” None of them have never played basketball. They sit around talking about stocks and bonds, and do not have a clue about the stock they are trying to put on the basketball court for the fans. THEY ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE FANS. WE NEED “ONE” OWNER!! Not a bunch of “BUFFOONS” who drop the ball on every basketball management decision. Their not signing shows exemplifies how distant they are from basketball and the FANS. Doc Rivers is now going to take Shaq and turn him into a “MONSTER” with the Boston Celtics.
GO HAWKS!! WE NEED ONE OWNER. SELL THE TEAM TO ONE PERSON WHO KNOWS BASKETBALL AND LOVES THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST STOCKS AND BONDS!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a HAWK FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………..HARD TO “SHOCK THE WORLD” WITH THIS MANAGMENT….
sam'l
August 10th, 2010
1:39 pm
Jeff, I couldn’t disagree with you more.
Shaq is too old to run and hustle on a consistent basis. And should he try, he risks a career-threatening injury. The Hawks need someone who will be able to play fast, hard and smart.
As for the marketing aspect, I personally would never go see an oversized goofball who just happens to be a physically dominant specimen. I would go to see a winning basketball team who plays smart and with heart.
This actually sears the core of Atlanta’s dilemma. The populace apparently doesn’t know the difference between being presented a quality team and a warm,and fuzzy man-child who thinks he’ll become a deputy sheriff when he grows up. But yeah, you could watch Shaq manhandle an opponent, shove him off the court, lean back and go, “Yeah, that’s my man……”.
You’re smart enought to know that. But you wanted an angle to fit into your blog……I suggest you try living, breathing, and dying like a Hawk……For starters you could take Steve Holman and Ryan Cameron and bludgeon them to death with their microphones…….
Score Check
August 16th, 2010
9:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdkLVzHUO4