Shaquille O'Neal seriously considering a 2yr deal w/us

[HMFFL]

Shaq Weighing Offer From Hawks

The re-signing of Joe Johnson might not be the only big splash the Atlanta Hawks make this summer.

Free-agent center Shaquille O'Neal is seriously considering a two-year deal with the Hawks that starts at the mid-level exception of $5.8 million, according to NBA sources close to both the team and the future Hall of Fame player.

[SAUCERY_SWEET]

He might as well sign with the Hawks, he has as good a chance here as he would in Cleveland. IMO.

[dms269]

Gives us a big body against Dwight.

[notaneasywin]

I like this deal a lot. My only concern, is how Shaq would fit in on a team without an alpha dog personality (no wade, james, etc.) and a rookie head coach.

[Hawk4Playoffs]

wow, i really hope shaq signs... i am real excited!

[Magic24]

Would you guys do a sign and trade using childress, so then you can keep your MLE?

[evildallas]

Would you guys do a sign and trade using childress, so then you can keep your MLE?

Who is us? Cleveland? Sure.

[nycefnl]

I love Shaq on the hawks....and the idea of a sign and trade for Childress is a great idea...then you can try to sign Felton.

[CAM]

No to Felton.

There are cheaper, more suitable options for us. Plus I'd rather stick to a PG unit of Teague / Bibby / Crawford without throwing Ray into the mix.

[HoopsGuru25]

I'm against trading Smith....but Shaq would be a great fit for the Hawks even if he's only playing 60 games a year.

[Atowngetdown]

Just reported on ESPN News. Shaq agents denied that ATL made an Midlevel offer

[Cassius]

Shaq makes Joe's contract much more palatable, as he can still attract doubles on occasion and would get JJ some open shots.

[Lakeshow2417]

would make this team even more dangerous in teh post seasonand have an semi-answer for dwight

[Harry10]

great idea, i love the ballsy move, it is not a safe move, but i hate safe moves. if Shaq can loose 30lbs, he should easily make another all star appearance. now just get TMac and regardless of Joe, i think the Hawks have a legit shot at a championship.

[Space Jam]

I like the move, but if we get him does he start? Does that mean we trade Josh?

[evildallas]

Shaq has some negatives about him like he can be divisive in the locker room, he may feel he's still a starter and not actually be, he might not stay in shape, but the biggest is that he may not decide in a timely fashion meaning that other possibilities disappear while we wait for him.

I'm not against the pursuit of Shaq as we someone to play C 24-30 mpg, but I think we need be aggressive enough to accelerate the timetable while some fall back options are available. The S&T is the best route to go as it allows for even greater roster tweaking. Whether that's available or not should work itself out in the next week.

BTW, if nothing else this move resonates with the public most of whom expected nothing more from the ASG after shooting their wad on Joe. The very public hint of using the full MLE on a player people recognize (even one well past his prime) gains the team credit for wanted to compete.

[Harry10]

I like the move, but if we get him does he start? Does that mean we trade Josh?

come on really.... i mean Shaq is a big name, but you will be lucky to get 20mpg from him for 70 games

[perthwildcat]

Has anybody else noticed the difference with how Sund does things compared to B.K...

After years of game playing and waiting to see how Free Agency develops I kinda interesting how everyday I come home from work there is some other deal or something or other in the works...

At least it seems on the surface that the team is looking to shake things up a bit... Its good to see a aggressive response to the off season for a change whether I agree with the moves or not.

[perthwildcat]

Wasn't this the Cavs plan last year too.. Get Shaq to help compete against Howard and the Magic?

To start with the Cavs never got to play them in the playoffs..

Secondly I looked up the box scores for the 4 games during the year.

The Cavs won twice at home against then lost twice away... One of the losses Shaq missed through injury.

Through the other three games he averaged a whopping 5 rebounds and a shade over 13 ppg at an avg of 23 min..

And in the 2 wins he looks like he spent much of the game in foul trouble...

I wouldn't say this experiment was a success and yet we are trying to copy it?

[cavsfan_osiris]

I don't want him back in Cleveland, but he might be a good fit with Atlanta. No way is he a starter though. He's not even a rotation guy. He's a situational big, i.e. against a guy like Dwight Howard.