Celtics close to signing Shaq; SIGNED (updated)

[tugs]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68510/20100803/shaq_close_to_deal_with_celtics/

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnVgDI0GOq_gTpeE0v8Qy7i8vLYF?slug=ys-shaqceltics080310

O’Neal, 38, could help fill the Celtics’ void at center. Starter Kendrick Perkins(notes) is expected to be sidelined until January after having surgery on his right knee and Rasheed Wallace(notes) has indicated he’s retiring.

The Celtics have already signed Jermaine O’Neal(notes), who can play either center or power forward. If Shaquille O’Neal is added, the Celtics will have a big – and deep – frontline that also includes Kevin Garnett(notes), Glen Davis(notes) and rookies Luke Harangody(notes) and former second-round pick Semih Erden(notes).

The addition of both O’Neals also gives the Celtics insurance if Perkins and Garnett continue to have problems with their knee injuries.

wow... played for LA, might play for Boston... two storied franchises.

Shaquille O’Neal hinted at his interest in playing for Boston during an appearance on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” show on Monday.

“Celtics would be a good program,” he said.

[Slava]

Anywhere he can continue to play. The NBA will be at much of a loss once the big man retires. At this stage of his career I really don't mind him playing anywhere.

[Pablo Escobar]

Man if we face Boston in the finals again we will get our 3PEAT on Shaq and the Celtics I can only imagine his face when he sees Kobe hoist up the trophy, Kobe should retire on that note even though he won't beating Shaq and the Celtics for your 6th title now that's going out on top

[tugs]

Anywhere he can continue to play. The NBA will be at much of a loss once the big man retires. At this stage of his career I really don't mind him playing anywhere.

yep, i can't imagine the league w/o him, even AI. but Shaq is a bigger icon. damn, he's a pillar of the NBA.


Kobe winning his 6th in the expense of Shaq... what a battle that'll be.

[wackokid05]

if he goes to boston does that mean we for sure dont retire his jersey??

[KB24Gold]

Good now I can boo him even more

[Gek]

Pierce, Ray Ray, Garnett, Shaq vs Wade, LeBron, Bosh

Opening day will be entertaining.

[Kobe System]

Pierce, Ray Ray, Garnett, Shaq vs Wade, LeBron, Bosh

Opening day will be entertaining.

Boston 1-0
Miami 0-1

[5up]

The Big Fella hops on to any team that has a chance at competing for a championship just so he can tie kobe lol, next year he will be on OKC or Portland.

[Mamba Venom]

This is on topic

Many LA fans still love Shaq
I didnt see it like you needed to chose a side. It was more of a messy divorce and in time you go Kobe & Shaq you BOTH acted like grade-A **** and messed up a really good thing.

Eventually Shaq would come home and retire a Laker. Heck I wished him well in everygame he played EXCEPT when he was playing the Lakers.

NO ONE Loves Shaq BUT LA

Orlando nope
Miami (they will retire his #, but no)
Pheonix nope
Cleveland nope

I wanted Shaq to come back for sentimental reasons even though he is 38. I wanted him to retire a Laker and proudly put his # in our rafters where #s mean something. There is hardly anything Shaq could do to mess up his Laker legacy even if he didnt come back EXCEPT playing for the Celtics.

Every team Shaq has EVER played for has had a messy divorce when Shaq left (and yes having a guy that bolted from Orlando was a bad influence on James). If Shaq goes to Boston, I will remember all the BS and none of the good times IF his jersey ever gets on our wall. We might have a strict no Celtic policy and Shaq needs to be aware that he might be messing up the rest of his post basketball life. Shaq NEEDS love and he is destroying the ONLY place he has a home. I'm fine with it but I hope Shaq knows what he is doing because he will have to live with it. Did he sign w/ LeBron's marketing Decision and the HangOver preMadonna edition team?

[96 Til Infiniti]

Gives them some serious depth up front with both O'Neals, KG, Big Baby, and eventually Perkins.

I know Shaq's jersey should and hope will be retired by the Lakers but damn it's gonna hurt a little seeing a Celtic player getting his number retired in purple and gold, even if he does play with them for just a year or two.

[Lakersmylife]

To anyone even considering if the lakers should still retire shaq's jersey after this...lemme put it in two firm words: HELL NO.

Look i loved shaq years and YEARS ago(as laker diehards, who didn't), but what he did to this team and this organization years ago is something i'll never let go of. Yeah i agree, some blame has to go on others like Kobe and buss, but you see, Kobe has matured FAR ABOVE shaq. It's amazing how much this guy has matured over 6 years. I will forever respect Kobe for all that he has done for his organization. As for Shaq, i respect and thank him for what he did for us in his time in a Laker jersey, but never will i forgive what he did to this franchise in the summer of 04. I remember CRYING the moment i heard he was traded to miami, I couldn't believe it at the time.

But now, WTF? BOSTON? That's just gotta be the worst of the worst. Worse than phoenix, cleveland or miami. Shaq's jersey should NEVER be retired by the Lakers now! He disrespected us in 04, and he's totally making a mockery of the 96-04 lakers with this signing. Just sickening.

[LascelleL]

Lakers don't retire his jersey they come out looking ungrateful,petty and disrespectful

[Joe Kleazy]

says the guy with the shaq avatar. Hanging that gold jersey with the rest of those kings is more of a honor & privalege than anything and if shaq's actions prevent that he has nobody to blame but himself. His ego along with kobe's at that time put them both in a compromising situation and only KOBE played his cards right and did what was needed to show his loyalty, which is why kobe is a LOCK to join "THE WALL".

[PortlandForever]

Pierce, Ray Ray, Garnett, Shaq vs Wade, LeBron, Bosh

Opening day will be entertaining.

um........Rondo?

[PortlandForever]

Lakers don't retire his jersey they come out looking ungrateful,petty and disrespectful

He is right

[Magicontinues]

Did you see Jimmy Kimmel on Shaq the other night? Kimmel made a great comment, he asked if he would have a problem wearing green after being a Laker, Shaq said no, Kimmel then said "well from what your wearing it looks like you don't have a problem with what you wear at all"

[LApwnd]

Lakers don't retire his jersey they come out looking ungrateful,petty and disrespectful

He is right

who gives an F bout what others think, we the fans, Dr. Buss all KNOW what Shaq has said and done, its up to the Lakers mgmt. and if they dont feel like they need to retired his Jersey then I support them and I could care less what outsiders say. Guys like AC Green, B. Scott, Coop, all played with more class/dignity then Snaq and ALL would good-key factors with their contribution towards a championship. Only person ungrateful is that fat arse, Lakers gave him the RICHEST contract in league history at the time, put up with his injury plague season after season, put up with his motto of "hurt on company time, recover on company time," publicly humiliated the owner during AND after his tenure here, insulted the city and its fans. SO Shaq and any other critics who would bash Lakers mgmt. if he doesn't get his jersey in the rafters can go an F themselves, Dr. Buss owes NOTHING TO NO ONE.

[kmina]

maybe he should now be called The Big Shamrock......or just The Big Sham for short.

When the Shaq/Kobe show ended in 2004, I was disappointed to say the very least. I was upset at both of them. Since then, Kobe has earned my respect tremendously while Shaq has just annihilated his own image in my eyes. There's no denying that Shaq was a tremendous player on the Lakers at one point but now he's proving to me that he was never truly a Laker. I hope we see the Celtics in the Finals where Kobe can hoist the trophy in Shaq's face.

[Danny Darko]

Lakers don't retire his jersey they come out looking ungrateful,petty and disrespectful

He is right

who gives an F bout what others think, we the fans, Dr. Buss all KNOW what Shaq has said and done, its up to the Lakers mgmt. and if they dont feel like they need to retired his Jersey then I support them and I could care less what outsiders say. Guys like AC Green, B. Scott, Coop, all played with more class/dignity then Snaq and ALL would good-key factors with their contribution towards a championship. Only person ungrateful is that fat arse, Lakers gave him the RICHEST contract in league history at the time, put up with his injury plague season after season, put up with his motto of "hurt on company time, recover on company time," publicly humiliated the owner during AND after his tenure here, insulted the city and its fans. SO Shaq and any other critics who would bash Lakers mgmt. if he doesn't get his jersey in the rafters can go an F themselves, Dr. Buss owes NOTHING TO NO ONE.

This

Shaq was never going to get his jersey retired by LA, and no it's not disrespectful- we're talking about a guy who did everything he could to alienate himself. Going to the Celtics alone would be cause for the Lakers to snub him, but this latest signing is nothing compared to his body of not worthy antics and disrespect to the Lakers.