Off Court Courting Between the Celtics and Shaquille O’Neal
Paul Pierce can rest at ease.
After signing a bloated four-year, $61 million renewal contract last month with the Boston Celtics, Pierce expressed some anxiety in the managerial moves being made by president of basketball operations Danny Ainge during the offseason. Or rather, the lack of managerial moves.
Boston kept Pierce, Ray Allen, Marquis Daniels, and Nate Robinson. A quality lineup by any standard. But the Eastern Conference champions failed to make a pitch at any other big name additions, in an offseason where the bar has been set by Miami—leaving Pierce weary about the team’s future success rate.
True, the Celtics signed Jermaine O’Neal, which took care of its mid-level exception, but that move was necessitated by the fact that starting center Kendrick Perkins may be out for up to four months recovering from knee surgery.
But now, a good month after free agency, the Celtics seemed to have made their headlining move: sources indicated that they’re in the midst of signing a deal with 15-time All-Star free agent Shaquille O’Neal.
Of course, the attacks can be levied a bit too easily. O’Neal isn’t what he used to be. He’s 38. He’s a pick-and-roll liability. Even people completely unfamiliar with the game know he can’t shoot free throws.
At the same time, it serves to remember that last season he lowered his defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) to a fair 102, which is on par with his 2005-06 Championship win with Miami. So even if he is a defensive liability, stuck between the well-known defensive powerhouse of Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett, that question hardly seems worth debating. What seems more noteworthy is that the Celtics seem to offer the best arrangement he can get.
It’s true that Shaq didn’t always seem to mesh with Cleveland, but with coach Doc Rivers at the helm, there’s every reason to believe O’Neal’s place on the team will be set from the get go. It’s unlikely the team chemistry that’s already been glued between the others will fall out of place.
If for no other reason, Boston should take Shaq up on the offer simply for the rich NBA history he brings, and particularly his experience with the Miami Heat. Miami will face the Celtics in their opener this season, and what could be more exciting than another All-Star addition that carries the whole new school vs. old school theme implied in the match even further?
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