Shaq: I told Ainge Not To Make The Perkins Trade

Shaquille O'Neal sat down for a lengthy interview with The Times Picayune, while being honored at LSU with a statue this week. Here are some highlights:
I truly believe that if I didn’t get injured, we (Celtics) would have beaten Miami, and we could have beaten Dallas.

My mind was on winning the whole thing, and we had a chance to get the second spot (in the Eastern Conference), and we ended up getting the fourth spot. I even told (Boston General Manager) Danny Ainge not to do the Kendrick Perkins deal with Oklahoma City. I told them I might not be ready, and I’m definitely not coming back.
A few thoughts:

Shaq continues his tradition of taking swipes at former teammates, coaches, and organizations. This time with a dig at Danny Ainge. I still don't know why the C's bought him that retirement RV. Though Shaq is completely right in suggesting that the Perkins trade was dumb, Ainge rationalized the trade for months by saying we'd be fine at the center position because Shaq was coming back. Now we have Shaq saying he told Ainge either he "might not be ready" or "I'm definitely not coming back."

Nice to see Shaq paying attention to the season. We finished with the 3rd seed, not the 4th.


He's correct that with a another center (whether it's Perkins or a healthy Shaq) we beat Miami and Dallas. Doc has also said that we finish with the #1 seed if we don't make "The Trade." It was a "stupid, idiotic" (Curt Schilling moment) move to make if you're the best team in the league and going for the title THIS year.

And in case you needed more proof that Shaq is and always was a Laker, when asked what was the best organization he played for, he answers. "Probably the Lakers. Owner Jerry Buss and his group were great. They always did what they said they were going to do." He also goes on to praise Phil Jackson as a coach and never mentions Doc Rivers.

So while Shaq is right that the Perkins trade was a bad move, I must reiterate I'm still Glad to See Shaq Gone.