It doesn’t appear that the Celtics will be adding two O’Neals to their roster this summer.
On Wednesday, Boston officially signed veteran center/forward Jermaine O’Neal to a two-year deal.
On Thursday, Celtics president Danny Ainge was interviewed on Boston sports radio station WEEI, and provided little optimism about the team’s chances of signing future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal, ESPN.com reports.
“I don’t think that Shaquille is that much of a possibility,” Ainge told WEEI. “The door is not shut, but I don’t think it’s a real possibility right now. Certainly not our top priority.”
In order for the Celtics to afford Shaq, they would have to pay him the veteran minimum. And in order for that to happen, the move would have to come via a sign-and-trade deal with Cleveland, which Ainge deems unlikely.
“That door hasn’t been completely slammed, although it’s very unlikely once we signed Jermaine O’Neal,” Ainge said.
