Shaq, Jermaine, AI or T-Mac?

[Martti.]

The question was featured on that FA Summit video on ESPN, so I thought we might as well have a discussion about it here. And also, it's a nice break from all the Lebron, Wade and Bosh talk.

If you must sign one guy, will it be Jermaine O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady or Shaquille O'Neal?

I'm with Bill Simmons and I'd choose T-Mac. He is the youngest of the four and I believe deep down that he will be able to contribute for a few more years on a championship contending team. If his knee won't blow out every time he gets on the floor, that'd b great.

Who would you choose?

[Sauru]

well its kind of a faulty question. if i was forced to sign one it would be at the minimum so all 4 become no risk at that point. the second part is what team would i be? lets assume i am picking for the celtics, i will go ahead and pick shaq. does not hurt to have another big body around and if by chance we get to the finals again against the lakers the man will give you every last bit of energy he has. hell after what kobe said he is probably already motivated to get another so yeah shaq by a landslide imo

[Axel The Great]

Like Sauru said it depends what team you're talking about. Like the Celtics, the Rockets need a back-up Center, since Yao's health can't be trusted. Can't go wrong with the O'Neals, but Shaq would get my nod, Jermaine just looks for trouble on the court. Shaq wouldn't demand many possessions on the offensive end, but on the defensive end is his strength, he can still rebound, still block, and still defend the low post. Though if you want an effective FT shooter, Jermaine is the right O'Neal for the Rockets.

[Rip32]

Gotta take one of the O'neals. If I'm the Pistons you're probably picking a guy to be Ben Wallace's back-up this season. Shaq is a guy who needs to start to be effective. If you want a guy to play that high-post with the ability to go down low you may want Jermaine. Both are fragile dinosaurs (Jermaine to a lesser extent), but I think I'd go with Jermaine due to his speed/quickness advantage on both sides of the ball.

[dare]

I will also take T-Mac. If my team is the Lakers and he will sign for minimum I think he can be a good backup for Kobe . I know it's very weird but the guy is hungry for a ring and also to resurrect his career.

[Andrew]

I'd probably take Shaq for the Bulls, assuming he's willing to come off the bench.

[Static]

Considering the egos of all these players and the "legacies" that they've each built up--with the slight exception of Jermaine O'Neal--are any of them really likely to sign for the minimum? I just wouldn't see it happening for less than 3-5mil per year, especially in Shaq's case.

[Sauru]

i am pretty sure all the players would want more than i would be willing to pay them as a GM. however the question was if you were forced to sign one and if i am forced then you better believe they are only getting the min

[Lamrock]

Shaq's the only one of these players with any value left. McGrady's done, Iverson's a joke and Jermaine's a horrible offensive player with fleeting defensive abilities.

[Static]

makes sense. i was just saying that in practical terms, no gm is likely to be that stringent (and more so, to be successful in signing any of them by being that stringent).. and so the idea of getting any of those players for a minimum is a stretch.

wherever these free agents go, though, the ideal condition would be for a general manager to secure a deal of moderate value for only one or two years at most, since all of these players have their own individual injury/age issues and are huge question marks for any franchise.

[Sauru]

these players have zero value outside of a already established championship contender. shaq for the celtics off the bench would be nice, i would even take the other oneal for min to come off the bench the other 2 can go to hell imo lol

[Andrew]

If it came down to it, a contender interested in their services - particularly Shaq, depending on just how long he wants to play - could use their MLE the same way the Celtics did with Rasheed Wallace this past season.

[Sauru]

i rather use the MLE on mike miller then sign shaq for a min contract lol

[Kenny]

If I was picking for Denver, I'd say Shaq. The Nuggets had troubles with keeping big men fit last year that an extra one for insurance would be great. He's pretty slow but he'll be a presense in the lane til the day he retires. He'd be preferable over Jermaine anyway... I think T-Mac and AI would take too many shots away from Melo as well.

[NovU]

Are Shaq and AI mentally prepared to start from the bench yet? If they are able to kill their ego and accept significantly lessor roles, I don't see why not they could be succeed as back up players. As for JO, I was so frustarted with him as Heat this year, so I'd pity the team if they pick him up in the hopes of rejuvenated JO.

T-Mac's knee was very troubling last season even after all those time resting. I am going to assume it's nearly impossible for him to come back strongly like Grant Hill did. Heck, I am even going far claiming he's Penny Hardaway in making. Anyways, I'd go safer way, choosing others mentioned if all are equally priced.

[shadowgrin]

Heck, I am even going far claiming he's Penny Hardaway in making.

Ironic, since T-Mac idolized Penny (outside of MJ).

[Patr1ck]

Sign all four at the minimum.

[Kenny]

Are Shaq and AI mentally prepared to start from the bench yet?

I'd say Shaq would be more than AI. Shaq took a lesser role when he went to Miami and won that championship with them. AI however seems to be way too volatile to do that. He's supposed to be the franchise player and we're talking about the bench man.

[Murat]

First of all, I would delete Shaq and Jermaine. AI? He is going to retire... So I prefer T-Mac.

[Kenny]

First of all, I would delete Shaq and Jermaine. AI? He is going to retire... So I prefer T-Mac.

Delete them? Really? But they provided us with so much entertainment over the years

T-Mac would actually be my last choice out of the 4... he's just bonkers in my opinion

[Murat]

No... Shaq is 38. Jermaine is 31. No-no-no. AI is 35. T-Mac is 31. If you ask me, T-Mac or Jermaine. Changed my opinion..

[IcemanOutlaw]

i prefer Shaq for Boston. As what David Aldridge said, Perkins can't play early in next season with his injury.

[Static]

Is Shaq still capable of playing big minutes over the course of a season, though? Someone replacing Perkins for an extended period of time would have to--and considering the degree of Perkins' injury, O'Neal doesn't seem well-suited for the task.

[Sauru]

the celtics dont need shaq or perk all season long to make the playoffs. by then perk is fine and shaq can start to do what we brought him there to do

[Kenny]

No... Shaq is 38. Jermaine is 31. No-no-no. AI is 35. T-Mac is 31. If you ask me, T-Mac or Jermaine. Changed my opinion..

By your logic Arron Afflalo would be a better acquisition than Kobe Bryant