An NBA source confirmed a FanHouse.com report Monday evening that the Atlanta Hawks have an interest in signing free agent center Shaquille O'Neal, and sources have told NBA.com's Sekou Smith that the team has discussed a two-year deal worth $11.7 million for O'Neal. However, the source cautioned that the Hawks' interest in the 38-year-old O'Neal is "preliminary" and that the team, no matter what big man it brings in, has no intention of moving All-Star center Al Horford to power forward in any scenario.
The source said the Hawks' interest in O'Neal is not significantly greater than the team's interest in other free agent centers like Zydrunas Ilgauskas or Brad Miller, and that the team has just begun examining whether it needs another big man to play with Horford and backup Zaza Pachulia, who Atlanta likes a great deal as a reserve. However, the possibility exists that Hawks ownership may view O'Neal as an attractive component next season and could be driving the team's pursuit of the 15-time All-Star and two-time Finals MVP.
And given that ownership just stepped up to the plate and okayed Joe Johnson's six-year, $119 million contract, it may have some additional leeway.
O'Neal indicated during the playoffs that he thought he could play one or two more seasons as a starter. His one-season stint with the Cavaliers had some solid moments, and O'Neal did not play badly in the playoffs, averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for Cleveland on 66 percent shooting from the floor. But he could not stop the Cavs' collapse in the second round against the Celtics and whether he returns to Cleveland next season is a major question. Sources indicate the Cavaliers are very interested in Dallas free agent center Brendan Haywood. O'Neal could also have other options of his own as well.
The Hawks also do not want to mess too much with a team that won 53 games in the regular season, even though Atlanta was taken apart by Orlando in the second round. There have been murmurs that the Hawks are shopping forward Josh Smith, who had one of his best seasons last year. However, a source with knowledge of the Hawks' thinking said that the team would only contemplate moving Smith for a major, star player at power forward.
Now that Johnson is back in the fold, Atlanta's major change for next season will be getting more playing time for second-year point guard Jeff Teague, who will likely take up many of the minutes from veteran Mike Bibby
http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/index.html
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