The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center in the twilight of a
brilliant career is coming to the Eastern Conference champions, hoping to add
to his four NBA titles.
O’Neal signed a two-year contract worth about $3 million on
Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said on condition of
anonymity because no details were released.
So this is where Shaq’s colorful career will end after 20
seasons if he completes his contract with the Celtics.
One of the NBA’s most charismatic players will finish with a
legendary franchise on the parquet floor beneath 17 championship banners and
the retired numbers of Bill Russell, Larry Bird, John Havlicek and other NBA
greats.
After receiving little interest from other teams, O’Neal
will play on that floor with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Boston’s
“Big Three” since Garnett and Allen arrived before the 2007-08 season
From the first pick in the 1992 draft out of Louisiana State
to dominant, rim-rattling inside force to complementary player, O’Neal’s NBA
travels have taken him to six teams and 15 All-Star games. He is the fifth
leading scorer with 28,255 points and 14th in rebounds with 12,921 in league
history. He’s averaged 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and was the
NBA MVP in 2000.
His foul shooting might still be a problem and his lumbering
style could slow down a running game, but the Celtics need the big center
because Kendrick Perkins is out, possibly until February, following knee
surgery. Perkins was hurt in Game 6 of the NBA finals against Los Angeles and
missed the Lakers’ 83-79 win in Game 7.
“If we get to another Game 7 down the line, I’m sure we will
be glad we have Shaq on the team,” Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck said.
The team considered too old by some, despite nearly winning
the title, has decided to rely for two more years on a group of 30-plus stars,
all likely headed for the Hall of Fame.
O’Neal, 38, joins Pierce, 32, Garnett, 34, and Allen, 35.
The Celtics also signed free agent center Jermaine O’Neal , 31 — a six-time
All-Star — after the season.
All five are signed for two seasons, except Pierce, who has
four years left on the deal he signed after the season. Point guard Rajon Rondo
, 24, also is in the fold for four more years.
“I am honored to be joining the Celtics,” Shaq said in a
statement issued by the club. “I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon,
and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my
teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another
championship.”
The Celtics won their NBA high 17th championship in 2008.
“It is not every day that you can add a player of
Shaquille’s caliber to your team,” Celtics president of basketball operations
Danny Ainge said in the statement. “His past experience speaks for itself and
we believe that he is a great fit for our roster.”
Not far from where the Celtics play, another large figure on
the Boston sports scene spread the news.
“Hey, they signed Shaq here,” David “Big Papi” Ortiz, said
out loud in the Red Sox clubhouse after taking batting practice at Fenway Park
before the game with the Cleveland Indians.
Just which of the two O’Neals will start at center remains
uncertain with Perkins recovering from surgery for torn ligaments in his right
knee.
“I am very excited,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “Adding
a player like Shaq is a major plus and it fills a void for our team. He’s a
real nice piece of the puzzle and he will complement us in where we want to go
this coming season.”
O’Neal has won three championships with Los Angeles along
with his latest, in 2006, with Miami when he was teammates with Dwyane Wade .
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed O’Neal before last season, hoping
he could help LeBron James win his first title. O’Neal averaged a career-low
12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 53 games, and the Cavaliers lost
the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Celtics in six games.
In his last game, O’Neal had 11 points and 4 rebounds in a
94-85 loss in Boston.
That’s where he’s scheduled to begin his next season in a
marquee matchup on Oct. 26 against the Miami Heat with James, Wade and Chris
Bosh .
On Tuesday, O’Neal sounded unsure if he would ever play
another NBA game after a difficult offseason of uncertainty.
“For me, it’s been a real thinking process,” he said in
Orlando. “I came into the league very graciously and want to go out very
graciously. My main thought was I would like to play for a winning franchise,
somebody that’s used to winning, somebody that keeps winning. Hopefully, I’ll
make my decision here in the next one or two days.”
Now it’s been made.
