Veteran free agent center Shaquille O'Neal -- the future Hall of Famer without a team -- has been lobbying the Boston Celtics aggressively, still trying to convince them that his addition would help their quest to win another NBA championship. He still wants to be The Big Leprechaun. The Celtics, who lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in June, are facing the difficult task of holding off both the suddenly star-studded Miami Heat and the improved Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference to get their rematch in the Finals. Although O'Neal was unavailable for comment Friday, two sources close to him confirmed his continued interest in the Celtics, even though they currently have no room, or exceptions, under the salary cap to pay him beyond the NBA veteran's minimum of $1.6 million. The Celtics could pay him more, but only if his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, helped with a sign-and-trade deal. "He only wants to go to a team with a chance to win it all,'' one source said. "That's a short list. Even for the money, he's not going to a non-contender.'' The Celtics recently signed veteran Jermaine O'Neal, using their mid-level exception of $5.6 million to do it, but they still have a need for another veteran front-court player. And O'Neal sees himself as that guy. The Celtics will be starting this season without veteran center Rasheed Wallace, who is expected to announce his retirement soon, and without starting center Kendrick Perkins, who is expected to miss at least the first two months recovering from knee surgery. They also lost veteran free agent guard Tony Allen to Memphis, but they did re-sign guard Marquis Daniels. http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/23/shaq-wants-to-wear-celtics-green/
Lol this guy is such a clown. It is quite sad how he's gone from the MDE to being a ring chasing, team-begger. I just don't get it...I know he can still be a productive role player, but its sad to see what he has become.
yeah, but we have no cap space, so we would have to do a sign and trade with the Cavs. It would probably be Sheed's contract and a 2nd rounder for Shaq.
I don't care if he goes to Boston, Shaq is getting his jersey retired. He was the leader on three NBA Championship teams, he is the player of the decade, his best years were in L.A.. Shaq is going in the rafters as soon as he hangs it up.
I guess I will have to wipe my @ss with my collectible shaq laker jersey. So much for him being a laker.
