NBA Free Agency: Please, Boston, Don't Pick Up Shaquille O'Neal

There is no doubt about it, not having Kendrick Perkins in starting lineup come October is going to hurt the Celtics.

However, adding in Shaq will only make matters worse.

Speculations arose this past week that Boston was one of the teams (along with Atlanta and Dallas) looking to pick up the 38 year-old former all-star and four-time NBA champion. Although Boston is desperately going to need a large presence in the post when the season begins, I just don't see Shaq fitting in well with the Celtics' family style of doing things.

The bottom line is Shaq isn't a starting center. He's slower than ever and drains battery power like a new touch-screen phone. Here's why he just wouldn't be a good fit.

First of all, is Shaq going to be willing to take the second banana job once Perkins gets better? Even more importantly, is he willing to play off the bench for a lesser amount of money? Even at, say, $3 million? Isn't that a lot of cheese to spend on someone to stand there and clog the lane for 20 minutes a game?

The minute Shaq goofs off when everyone else on the Celtic bench is in lockdown defense win mode, Doc Rivers is going to bench him. Doc is one of those coaches that will not put up with the kind of lip that superstars (or past superstars) will give coaches. If this happens, will yet another public problem between Shaq and his coach arise? Will Doc Rivers be then known as the new "master of panic?"

Granted, Kendrick Perkins isn't skilled at catching the ball being dished from Rondo. Then again, when was the last time Shaq played well with a lock-on, pass-first point guard? Steve Nash? We all saw how well that went.

Being the center that blocks out while Derek Fisher/Dwayne Wade/Mo Williams shoots is different from being the center that catches the ball inside, and fakes it for a turn around hook-shot. I'm not saying he can't do it, I'm just saying it has been a long time since he has.

There is going to be a point where GM Danny Ainge has to gradually move from being an older, veteran team into a good mix of youth and age. Perkins is young. Garnett is not. Glen Davis is not ready to be a starter on a contending team. Rasheed Wallace is retiring (maybe).

The Celtics need to pick up a younger player that can play the four and five spot qually as well. They have a fantastic core of veteran talent. They still need speed, youth, and power. Adding someone that has been in the league since 1992 would be nothing short of a mistake.

So please Shaq, being the awesome genie we remember as Kazaam, grant us Celtic fans the wish of not gracing us with your presence.