After seeing the Celtics acquire Rasheed Wallace from Detroit, the Lakers adding Ron Artest from Houston, the Magic trading for Vince Carter, and the Spurs dealing for Richard Jefferson from the Bucks, the Cavs’ only offseason upgrade was getting an old veteran center.
Granted that veteran is 4-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, his age and weight is an issue. But the biggest issue I have is from a X’s and O’s point of view.
Shaq’s large presence in the paint will clog up the paint, not allowing LeBron James to get to the basket as well as he has. When James is shooting the ball from the outside he is a much different, and less effective player.
Cleveland’s bench was abysmal in the playoffs.
In the eastern conference finals, Orlando Magic guard Mikael Pietrus outscored the entire Cleveland bench himself. By trading for Shaq, the Cavs traded away two bench players, Ben Wallace, and Sasha Pavlovic.
The addition of Shaq does not even address any pressing needs. The current center, Big Z, is a more than capable center.
Cleveland’s weakness was not having a versatile power forward to defend the type of players such as Rashard Lewis of Orlando, and Kevin Garnett of the Celtics.
Adding someone like Carlos Boozer, or David Lee would help a lot.
After only adding Shaq, the king will not have any of the offensive pressure taken from him.
If Shaq shows his age, and does not perform like he did on 2009, he will fail to win a ring for the King, just like he failed Steve Nash and Grant Hill in their quest for a championship in Phoenix.
Nicholas Goss