Shaquille O'Neal: Why Shaq May Not Have a Team Next Season

Free agency talks for the NBA began in the first week of July. It has been several weeks since and Shaquille O’Neal is still looking for a team for next season. If people continue to become less interested in him, he may be sitting next season out.

O’Neal has made it very clear he is looking for a new team now that his one-year contract with the Cavaliers has expired.

Rumor has it he has been looking at the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and the San Antonio Spurs as possible new teams to sign with.

However, it doesn’t seem as if any of these teams are jumping at the chance to sign the legendary player. They have shown some interest in speaking with O’Neal, but no offers or serious negotiations have gone on yet.

There are a couple of major reasons why O’Neal isn’t on the top of everyone’s list of free agents to sign.

For one thing, he is the oldest player in the NBA today, and his ability and talent aren't quite what they used to be back in the day.

O’Neal still has a lot to offer a team, especially with his height and massive frame, but he doesn’t have as much to offer as he used to.

O’Neal also hasn’t shown that he can bring that little extra something to a team to boost the team’s performance.

Looking at his performance with the Cavaliers this past season, he didn’t see a lot of playing time, and what time he did see wasn’t that impressive.

His presence certainly didn’t help the Cavaliers win more games in the playoffs.

He is also an expensive player. Being a veteran player, and a still somewhat useful player, O'Neal won’t come cheaply to the team that signs him.

The combination of all of these factors has made O’Neal a less desirable player to sign.

If O’Neal would drop his asking price, or market his abilities better, he might have a chance at signing with a team next season.

If he doesn’t change the way he is presents himself, there is a chance no one will pick him up, and it could be the end of O'Neal’s career.