RealGM

Hey guys,

Many people are saying Shaq is going to sign with Dallas this summer, but his agent said yesterday that Cleveland is actually his first choice.

Here's the article:

Most people around the league are viewing Shaquille O’Neal’s time with the Cavaliers as a one-year-and-out proposition.

He played 53 games with the Cavs last season and averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds — both career lows. Friday was the one-year anniversary of the O’Neal trade from Phoenix.

Many expect the 7-foot-1, 325-pound behemoth to sign elsewhere for the 2010-11 season.

http://morningjournal.com/articles/2010/06/26/sports/doc4c2576bf7a605562656603.txt

Your thoughts?

However, I must disagree with Grant when he says "Shaq played very well" this past season...he was AWFUL except for the 13 game winning streak.

He was terrible for most of the playoffs and for most of the season. He didn't earn his $20,000,000 salary.

He only averaged 11 PPG...pathetic.

**Can't post the entire article.** - Exile

Can't really expect much from a 38 year old center who only plays a little over 20 minutes a game with a limited role. Shaq was primarily brought in for teams like Orlando and LA. I thought he played fairly well for his age, especially coming back from a thumb injury. How he fits within the team is a different story, and it doesn't help to have a coach who didn't know how to make the proper rotations and adjustments. I wouldn't mind having him back on the Cavs, but of course it depends on LeBron's decision in free agency and for what price.

Shaq knows that if Shaw is hired, he will get his touches on offense...BUT, Shaw will get himself fired for doing that.

Just ask Terry Porter.

The Diesel wrote: I must disagree with Grant when he says "Shaq played very well" this past season...he was AWFUL except for the 13 game winning streak.

He was terrible for most of the playoffs and for most of the season. He didn't earn his $20,000,000 salary.

He only averaged 11 PPG...pathetic.

Yeah, and Orton averaged 3 points & 3 rebounds, and was being considered for the lottery, but with his injury, he slipped quite a bit... yet, he still went in the 1st round - THREE points & THREE rebounds, a game.

There is a reason Shaq averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds & 1.3 blocks... it's called minutes. over the same time-frame you gave (not including the play-offs, as it increases his stats), shaq averaged 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per 38 minutes. He is going to be 39 years old, and when he gets in the paint, he is still undefendable. When he was inside the basket area, he made a crazy 86.4% of his touches that he put up.

Horrible? I don't think so. He was old, and couldn't play at top-speed for 35+ minutes, but when he was on the floor, his offense was very good, his defense was acceptable, and he was ALWAYS a threat!

I think Shaq could play when he's 45, and still get on the floor for 10-15 minutes a game, and still be the same threat. He is so big that he still commands a double-team from every team in the league. Most centers cannot say that they command a double team...and they aren't nearly Shaq's age!

I think at this point, Shaq would be glad to sign with anyone, let alone someone competitive.

We dont' know if he was worth it last year or not. We played him when we shouldn't have (against Boston) so he never had a chance to prove anything (against Orlando and LA).

He's a $5M player now. If he's willing to play 2 years totalling $10 then I'd probably do that.

How would you guys feel about signing and trading for Bosh, resigning Lebron, and signing Shaq. I would love to see a starting lineup of Mo, LBJ, Hickson, Bosh, and Shaq with AV and Jamison coming off the bench.

Hickson would be going in the S&T for Bosh...

Probably so. That would suck! I actually liked Hickson's energy. Who else do you think it would take to land Bosh?

Shaq should retire immediately before he tarnishes his playing reputation any further.

Shaq should retire immediately before he tarnishes his playing reputation any further.

I completely agree. He should retire...BUT, he just said on his Twitter account a few hours ago that he will play two more years.

He really shouldn't because he has nothing left to prove in basketball and he was absolutely terrible for most of last season.

His reputation has taken a huge hit ever since he forced his way out of Miami.

In hindsight, he should have retired after the 2006 championship season.

What better way to go out?

His career has been a disaster ever since...

A disaster? Stepping up and posting #'s equal to the best center after your best teammate is lost for half a season in a year with 2 coaching changes and 2 total system changes? Or playing your role wlll until you sustain an injury, then coming back and having your leader quit on the team? How exactly is any of that Shaq's fault? Did HIS medical staff misdiagnose a hip injury? Did he injure Wade, Zo, Haslem, and JWill? Did he poke Amare in the eye? Did he quit on his team in game 5 this year?

paul wrote:Shaq should retire immediately before he tarnishes his playing reputation any further.

Haaaa?? At this stage of his career I think he's doing just fine. How is he tarnishing his career??

paul wrote:Shaq should retire immediately before he tarnishes his playing reputation any further.

Are you kidding me. Shaq is still a top 5 center in this league (and no Dwight Howard is NOT a center). Admittedly, center is not talent rich in the NBA at this time, but Shaq was one of the few that showed up for the Celtics series. If Shaq would have gotten some help from Mo or LBJ than the storyline is about a revived Shaq this off-season.

MJ with the Wiz, GP with the Heat, Karl Malone with the Lakers. Now that was an embarrassment. Compared to in his prime, Shaq is not the same player but then again who is?

Pula_86 wrote:

paul wrote:Shaq should retire immediately before he tarnishes his playing reputation any further.

Are you kidding me. Shaq is still a top 5 center in this league (and no Dwight Howard is NOT a center). Admittedly, center is not talent rich in the NBA at this time, but Shaq was one of the few that showed up for the Celtics series. If Shaq would have gotten some help from Mo or LBJ than the storyline is about a revived Shaq this off-season.

MJ with the Wiz, GP with the Heat, Karl Malone with the Lakers. Now that was an embarrassment. Compared to in his prime, Shaq is not the same player but then again who is?

lolllll where is the green font

Pula_86 wrote:

paul wrote:Shaq should retire immediately before he tarnishes his playing reputation any further.

Are you kidding me. Shaq is still a top 5 center in this league (and no Dwight Howard is NOT a center). Admittedly, center is not talent rich in the NBA at this time, but Shaq was one of the few that showed up for the Celtics series. If Shaq would have gotten some help from Mo or LBJ than the storyline is about a revived Shaq this off-season.

MJ with the Wiz, GP with the Heat, Karl Malone with the Lakers. Now that was an embarrassment. Compared to in his prime, Shaq is not the same player but then again who is?

That might be the worst post in the history of realgm. The only thing that's top 5 about Shaq today is his short size.


Shaq was one of the most dominant players in the history of the game in his prime. The dude used to average 30/13 for entire seasons, hell I remember watching in awe as he had triple doubles with blocks as the third stat, he was Dwight Howard only much bigger, much better and much nastier. He was the big to kill all bigs, yet kids watching the game now who are too young to remember that see him as Lebron's fat funny sidekick who barely plays and is barely effective when he does.

If 25 year old Shaq could see himself on court now he'd be embarrassed. The guy should be remembered as truly one of the all time greats, the longer he plays like a guy who shouldn't even be a starter in this league the further away those memories get.

Retire big guy and take your place alongside the greats where you belong.

I don't want him back at all. It's time to get younger and more athletic. I agree 100% with Paul.

The problem with Shaq is that it takes about 20 games for him to get into any type of rhythm and when he has one of his injuries the clock starts all over again. And to say that he showed up for the Boston series is to completely ignore his awful defense.

TheOUTLAW wrote:The problem with Shaq is that it takes about 20 games for him to get into any type of rhythm and when he has one of his injuries the clock starts all over again. And to say that he showed up for the Boston series is to completely ignore his awful defense.

The chances of the Cavs keeping Shaq (Who I like) are pretty low. He is currently being used in various trade scenarios, including one that would bring back Emeka okafor

I'd do a Shaq for Okafor S&T if we get Bosh....but New Orleans wouldn't and Shaq probably wouldn't either. I wouldn't give up any more than Shaq though...Okafor is horribly overpaid and just not that good.