Shaq looking for “7 or 8 million” dollars to become a Hawk?
"The bottom line is the Spirit has to show they really want him..."
He might not be the biggest free agent fish in the pond anymore, but Shaquille O'Neal's next landing spot will still make waves... Okay, it'll make ripples. Very, very strong ripples.
Whoever signs him is basically paying for a fun loving introductory news conference that they're hoping will precede enough extra season ticket packages sold to justify his salary. A salary that long time friend and former teammate Dennis Scott pretty well nailed down for the boys on 790 AM in Atlanta.
"The bottom line is the Spirit (Hawks ownership group) has to show they really want him. You have to spend a little bit more money. Shaq knows he's not going to get 20 million but he wants a little bit more than the mid-level exception which he probably should get. He shouldn't get 10 or 15 so I don't want anyone to get crazy out there but give the man 7 or 8 million and bring him in. As soon as you sign him, the Highlight Factory is going to sell out immediately because people want that type of personality in this city."
Let's be clear, the "Highlight Factory" is not going to "sell out immediately" to see Shaq drag his personality up and down the floor for 20 minutes a night.
Even fewer will be interested in watching him mug for the camera in street clothes. He's played more than 60 regular season games just once in the last 5 years.
Last year, Atlantans proudly supported their 53 win NBA franchise by ranking in the league's bottom half for attendance and Half-a-Shaq isn't likely to change that or anything else associated with the team at this point in his career.
You'll also like: