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Shaq’s coming back to the East, how does this impact the Celtics?
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AP Photo/John Raoux: Shaq's trade to the Cavs should inject even more energy into the East's three-headed rivalry.
Well, well, well. Look who is coming back for another run with the Eastern Conference. First, there was Shaq and Penny. They were young, fun, exciting, and refreshing. Then, we had Shaq and Kobe. They were almost too good. Multiple championships, but also selfish and immature bickering. Part III of Shaq’s tour with the league’s top players included Dwayne Wade. This was Shaq’s shortest stint on the tour, but still resulted in a championship. Shaq showed his age a bit, but he still was a force. Now, we’ve hit the final stop: Shaq and LeBron.
Shaq’s pairing with LeBron will be an interesting one. For one thing, LeBron plays a different position than the other three mentioned above. LeBron is a small forward who is multi-talented, with the ball-handling and passing skills of a point, the size and rebounding skills of a power forward, and the athleticism of a small forward or shooting guard. Because of LeBron’s multi-faceted game, his pairing can still work just as well as the Shaq couplets above. Right?
First of all, let’s discuss the first major issue of this deal. Shaq isn’t exactly in his 20s anymore. Of course, we’ve been saying that for a while now, and he just had a solid season last year. So he clearly is hearing the criticism and doing a great job in shutting everyone up. And with this opportunity presenting him with one last shot at another ring (especially with his best buddy/arch enemy Kobe winning one and a Finals MVP this past season), Shaq will most definitely be fired up. But is that enough to overcome the age problem?
The stats don’t exactly support Shaw having a huge year for Cleveland. He will enter next season as the starting center, at age 37. He’s only played more than 70 games in a regular season once since the 2001-2002 season. Up until his relative resurgence last year, his ppg dropped every year from the 2004-2005 season, and he’s only averaged double figures in boards twice since that season. However, not only does Shaq have the Kobe/championship motivation, but he is also entering the final season of his contract. If wants one last plus-sized contract before he strides into the sunset, he’ll need to have an injury-free year (or at least major injury-free), and average around what he put up last year (18/8). So Cleveland can expect to get a motivated and focused Diesel walking through its doors.
So how does this affect the Celtics? First of all, Cleveland did not have to give up much for Shaq, since this was a salary dump. The Cavs sent Ben Wallace (washed up and overpaid, may retire), Sasha Pavlovic, its 46th pick from this year’s draft, and $500,000. Pavlovic is a decent bench player, and he might be released since less than $2 million of his contract is guaranteed. So Cleveland did not have to alter its playoff-caliber roster to get the Big Cactus, meaning that this trade should, theoretically, only make them better.
If you size Boston up with Cleveland, the Cavs now have the physical interior presence that they needed not only for shutting down and competing with guys like Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett, but also Dwight Howard from Orlando. Previously, the Cavs interior was manned by the Big Z, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who is just too slow at this point to play center for a championship team. Not that Shaq is any swifter, but he plays a more physical style and can ramp up his game in a fashion that Z can’t. Ilgauskas doesn’t dominate in the way that he used to be capable of, and it’ll better serve him, and the team, if he starts coming off the bench. This means that Perkins will have his hands full, and when both teams go to their benches, Cleveland will have the advantage, no matter who the Celtics backup center is when the season starts.
The bottom line is that this trade does not make Cleveland the front runner for the title, and does not even make them a lock for winning the East. However, this addresses one of their major weaknesses, while not weakening any of their strengths. As long as Shaq doesn’t interfere with LeBron’s unique ability to get to the rim, and Shaq doesn’t demand too many touches that would have normally gone to guys like Mo Williams and Delonte West, then I think that this trade will help make Cleveland an even tougher out for next year’s playoffs. Would I have liked to see them try to address multiple areas, such as getting another interior defender and one more wing scorer? Yes, but Cleveland found this route to be the better path to take, and Ben Wallace’s large expiring contract made it possible. Regardless of how it works out, it’ll be fun to watch.
So I’m not overly concerned from a Boston standpoint, but I’ll be more so if Shaq is still healthy and the Cavs are sitting at the top of the conference when the teams hit the last couple of weeks of the regular season.
And at the very least, this trade will allow Shaq and LeBron to combine their dumb player intros into elaborate choreographed monstrosities.
To get Cleveland’s stance on this move, plus how the offseason is going for the East’s top 3, I conducted a quick interview with Cory Felegy, who is the Cleveland Sports Examiner. I’ll probably talk with Cory again, if not during the offseason then definitely during the 2009-2010 season. I wanted to get Cory’s thoughts on the trade, and what his take is on the current state of the Cavs, Magic, and Celtics.
MR: How do you see LeBron and Shaq playing together? Can they be Kobe/Shaq 2.0?
CF: With Shaq now paired up with LeBron, it'll be important for LeBron to feed the big man. Shaq's used to getting the ball and if he doesn't, the Cavaliers won't get the full effort from him. It'll be up to Coach Mike Brown and staff to draw up a new offensive game plan to incorporate Shaq. Lots of alley-oops. Lots of post-up plays with kick outs to our shooters. If it works, it'll be fun to watch them work together.
As far as this being Kobe/Shaq 2.0, not a chance. Shaq's in Cleveland for one year only and if it results in a championship, that would be tremendous. But getting three with Shaq and LeBron is unrealistic. The Cavs won't look to resign him after next season.
Does this move solve Cleveland’s issues with its interior defense?
I don't know if it solves the problems but it sure can't hurt. This is clearly a move to stop Dwight Howard. It's reactionary. Last season the Cavs acquired Mo Williams and later Joe Smith because they figured they'd have to go through the Celtics to get to the Finals. Now they're doing it again. I'm not a fan of that approach, but they got Shaquille O'Neil so I can't complain!
How do you view the Magic’s trade for Vince Carter? Does that move keep them atop the Eastern Conference?
Since they traded Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee, two players that hurt the Cavs in the playoffs, to acquire one...I gotta say I like the trade. They acquired an aging star and so did the Cavs. But the Magic's trade weakened Orlando's bench, whereas the Cavs lost very little. Sasha Pavlovic was invisible all year, Ben Wallace suffered through injuries. Orlando doesn't get past the Cavs without that bench. No way does this move keep them atop the East. Carter's a great player but he's never hurt the Cavs with the Nets or Raptors. Boston and Cleveland are still superior teams.
Who would you consider to be the #1 contender in the East if the rosters stay as-is?
Wow, that's a tough question. Six or seven hall of fame players on three teams. I think the starting rosters are pretty equal, but I'd give the edge to the Celtics just based on the fact that they're the only one of the three to win it all. The same team is still in place and if Garnett is healthy then the Cavs and Magic are in trouble again.
Do you feel any more moves are necessary prior to the season starting?
It'd be nice to get another outside shooter, one with a little height. Not sure who's available. Someone with playoff experience would be a plus though.
Thanks, Cory.
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