Celtics sign Shaq

BOSTON (AP):

The Boston Celtics signed Shaquille O'Neal yesterday, adding the 15-time All-Star centre to a team needing his size with centre Kendrick Perkins recovering from knee surgery that could sideline him until February.

The deal with the free agent centre is for two years and about $3 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said on condition of anonymity because no details were released.

O'Neal joins the other three big names, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, on a team that went to the seventh game of the NBA finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then, Boston signed centre-forward Jermaine O'Neal.

Point guard Rajon Rondo will also be coming off an outstanding postseason.

"I am honoured to be joining the Celtics," O'Neal said in a statement issued by the club. "I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship."

The Celtics won their NBA-high 17th championship in 2008. O'Neal has won four NBA titles.

"It is not every day that you can add a player of Shaquille's calibre to your team," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in the statement.

He is the fifth leading scorer in NBA history with 28,255 career points and is 14th in rebounds with 12,921. He has averaged 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.