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Any thoughts on Shaq?
Posted by: Ben on July 21st, 2010
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I have noticed that Shaq (among some other big names too) is still teamless. This comes as a bit of a shock to me. Not a big shock but one nevertheless. So, my wheels started turning and I thought “what if we could bring him to Utah.” Not sure he would even consider coming here, let alone for less money. Despite the negatives (and I know there are a few), I would like to focus on some possitives: He could be a mentor for Fes. Maybe teach the kid what it means to be a bruiser in the post. He is a grizzled veteran that actually has a ring. He might provide some leadership. That one I’m not so sure about but it might happen. If he could know his role and maybe change his attitude a bit he could be a great help, and then we would have our big man defending the key.
This is pure speculation. I am aware of some of the negatives of bringing him here (old, free throws, big head, expensive, etc). I’m not saying that it would be a good idea either. I know he hasn’t had a lot of success since he left LA. But I want to throw it out there and get some thoughts on whether a Shaq Experiment here in Utah would be worth it. Any thoughts on Shaq?
Replies: 14
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14 Responses
A couple of weeks ago, I got a text from my brother in the middle of the night that said “Dude, I’m at a club in Vegas and Shaq is the DJ!!!”
I would love to have Shaq here. In fact, I’d take him in a second. But he’d get bored before he left the airport. Good thought, but I just can’t imagine it.
I would welcome Shaq but only at a reduced price which I know he won’t take. He wants more than the mid-level I’ve read. If he would somehow come to Utah for only a couple million, I’d say do it.
I had that same thought a week or so ago, and I would love to bring in Shaq. He could start while Okur is gone. He would be a great backup for when Okur returns. He’s listed as 7′1″ and 325 pounds, while Fes is listed as 7′1 and 300 pounds, so they are almost the same size. Fes could definitely use a big guy that’s his size to teach him how to play and be his mentor. It would be a great fit.
However, after that thinking that, it also came to mind that Shaq probably wouldn’t even consider coming to Utah, so it ain’t gonna happen. I can dream though, can’t I?
Some wonder why he doesn’t have a team yet. Well, I think Shaq is in the same boat as Terrell Owens is in the NFL. Two former greats who still have some left in the tank, but usually teams shy away from guys in their late 30’s.
He’s a waste of money.
If he was really cheap than sure… But he’s not taking anything under 10 mill. He’s too old and can’t do much anymore.
I’ve seen where he wants 5.8mil a year. I think he would be an incredible mentor to Fes. What could it hurt for one year?
Wouldn’t Shaq love to play on a team that faces the Lakers and Kobe Bryant during the season and more than likely every year in the playoffs? Or has that ship sailed since him and Kobe have both won a championship without each other. I guess he had the chance with Phoenix and it didn’t work out that well, but we are better than that team was right?
Adam and eviljazzfan, your points are well taken. Shaq could be a great mentor, if he wants to be and if the Jazz can sign him for 5.8 million.
Though Adam, I’m not sure I would agree that Shaq and TO are similar. TO is toxic for any team.
@bay and everyone else who thinks we can get Shaq for 5.8 Mil. We hav less than 3 Mil left from the MLE so we don’t even have 5.8 Mil to spend sorry.
He’s not similar to TO in that way. What I meant that was both players are really old and can’t find work easy because teams like to make youth movements. If TO were 10 years younger he’d be signed for a team already, despite his attitude problems. TO is 36 turning 37 and Shaq is 38 turning 39. That’s all I meant.
I guess I really can’t blame Shaq for not wanting to take the veteran minimum since his most recent (or not too outdated, not sure which) contract was for 20 million. It’s kinda demoralizing going from 20 million to 2 million. But he’s not asking for 10 million. He’s just asking for above the MLE. Financially for the Jazz, we could get him by doing a sign and trade with Cleveland, we do still have a trade exception or two left.
Being that he does turn 39, he would want to go to a team that could win a title this year. Despite what some people here think, I don’t think the Jazz are high on his list when he’s looking at instant title contenders. He’s not going to come here just because we’ve played the Lakers in the playoffs three years straight. Even if that was his motivation, he has plenty of other, better options to face the Lakers. Especially if he managed to be on the team in the east who’s gonna face the Lakers in the finals next year.
I’d be pretty pleased if we got him but it wouldn’t happen in a million years.
I don’t like Shaq and don’t believe the Jazz would want him. He’s asking too much money for what he provides now, plus the Jazz would have to pay double his salary due to the luxury tax situation. BUT, that said, there is the possibility that we use the Harpring exception ($6.5M), and some incentive to Cleveland (more first rounders or something) to get them to re-sign Shaq and trade him to us. So the do-ability is there…but the likelihood is not.
I’d love Shaq coming off the bench but I don’t think he would do that…last few teams he has demanded the start and yeah I’m with James…he’d be bored in Utah.
All great thoughts, lets see how things shape up. At present time, no one is willing to take him for what he wants. With the doability there, and no other interest we shall see. Demands seem to lesson when you are getting left out. For us, it could be a win win, if his demands take a back seat to his desire to play. We, with a big body stopping up the middle, could show an LA, favorite, that they are not so grand.. Why it could happen, cause no one else is interested. Because Shaq would like to stick it to Kobe. Because what better way to go out than to thwart the two favorites of LA and Miami just prior to retiring. That would be enough all in itself. Why we should do it?, because we need someone to mentor Fes. Hopefully with one or two years under Shaq he would wake up and become the player we need him to be. To give us another big man who could stop LA.. Title. What do ya think?