The Celtics are making progress on a deal that would bring center Shaquille O’Neal to the defending Eastern Conference champions.
The four-time NBA champion Tuesday said he will be in the league next season and would rather retire than play internationally.
“Worse comes to worst, I’ll be a doctor and do speaking engagements and talk to children and run for sheriff in this town or the next town over,” O’Neal said in Orlando, Fla. “I have many, many options.”
O’Neal, 38, spent last season with the Cavaliers. The Celtics have been looking for big men because Kendrick Perkins is expected to miss at least half the season with a knee injury he suffered in the NBA Finals. Boston has already signed Jermaine O’Neal.
• The Celtics signed former Nuggets guard Von Wafer.
It’s Celtics-Heat for openers
NEW YORK — The NBA will open the 2010-11 season with the Heat at Boston, followed by the Lakers hosting the Rockets on Oct. 26.
Kobe Bryant and the defending champion Lakers face the new-look Heat on Christmas Day. The remainder of the Christmas schedule includes Boston at Orlando, Chicago at New York, Denver at Oklahoma City and Portland at Golden State.
The full NBA schedule will be released next Tuesday, but the league unveiled its nationally televised games for the opening week of the season.
Footnotes.
The Timberwolves waived guard Delonte West, whose $4.6 million contract was guaranteed for only $500,000 if he was waived by today.
• Guard Jason Williams, who averaged six points and 3.6 assists per game last season, re-signed with the Magic.
• The Heat signed guard Eddie House to a $2.8 million, two-year contract. He averaged seven points off the bench for New York and Boston last season.
• Clippers forward Craig Smith underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks. He averaged 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds last season.
The Associated Press
