Shaquille O'Neal reportedly is close to signing with the Boston Celtics (Photo by Chuck Burton, The Associated Press)
The Boston Celtics are about to fire a new salvo Eastern Conference arms race.
And it could cost the Orlando Magic dearly come playoff time.
It appears that the Celtics and Shaquille O’Neal are about to agree to a deal.
I know what many people are thinking: Shaq’s merely a shell of his own self.
Of course, Shaq at 38 isn’t as good as he was three, five or 10 years ago. But Shaq played effectively against Dwight Howard last year when the Magic faced the Cleveland Cavaliers. And even if Shaq only plays 15 to 20 minutes a game for the Celtics, he’s a big body who is tough to move off of the low block.
The Celtics-O’Neal courtship appears in the fourth spot in today’s daily links.
1. Merry Xmas, Magic: Orlando to meet Celtics on Christmas Day, Orlando Sentinel, Brian Schmitz
The Buzz: The Magic will appear on national TV twice during the season’s first week and also on Christmas and on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
2. Orlando Magic re-sign Jason Williams, Orlando Sentinel, Josh Robbins
The Buzz: “If you look at our team,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said, ”I don’t think there’s anybody in the league that’s deeper at that position than we are. We have three starting-caliber point guards. Clearly, Jameer’s injuries in the past two years, and especially two years ago, have made it really clear how important it is to have solid people at that position, and we have done that.”
3. Highlights of 2010-11 national schedule, ESPN.com, Marc Stein
The Buzz: Stein offers his take on the national-television matchups announced last night.
4. Celtics close in on Shaq, The Boston Globe, Gary Washburn
The Buzz: O’Neal would give the Celtics insurance down low whenever Boston plays Orlando.
5. LeBron’s ad criticized for failure to mention Cavaliers, Cleveland, Akron Beacon Journal, Rich Heldenfels
The Buzz: Maverick Carter defended James’ ad in the Beacon Journal.
6. Nuggets Shake Up Front Office, Dismiss Mark Warkentien, Rex Chapman, FanHouse, Chris Tomasson
The Buzz: “We just wanted to go in a different direction and bring in some new ideas,” the executive vice president of the group that owns the Nuggets told FanHouse.
7. Amar’e Stoudemire’s quest to Israel, The New York Times, Isabel Kershner and Harvey Araton
The Buzz: Stoudemire discusses his trip to Israel.
8. Bids for Rangers start at 9 a.m. in bankruptcy court, The Dallas Morning News, Barry Shlachter
The Buzz: Mark Cuban vs. Nolan Ryan — if the two faced off on a baseball diamond, with Ryan pitching and Cuban hitting, the results would be predictable. Today, however, their two groups will bid for Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers.
9. West waived; second-round pick Bjelica signs with Spanish team, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jerry Zgoda
The Buzz: The Timberwolves waived Delonte West, who was acquired by the team in a late-June trade. The move enabled the T-Wolves to pay West only $500,000 of the $4.6 million remaining on his contract.
10. Back rehab for Knicks’ D’Antoni, New York Post, Marc Berman
The Buzz: An injured back will prevent Mike D’Antoni from serving as an assistant coach for Team USA at the upcoming world championships in Turkey.
Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.