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Veteran signings could pose problems for elite teams

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Randy Hill

Veteran columnist Randy Hill is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.
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Updated Aug 3, 2009 1:17 PM ET
     
 
Four powerhouse NBA teams seemingly have embraced the notion that a sensational perk of aging is an upgrade in wisdom.
According to prevailing evidence, living and learning are swell partners. But the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic recently celebrated their collective might by taking separate and presumably calculated risks. Each of these teams has prepared for even nastier battles by adding a high-profile — and high-maintenance — employee. Our roll call brings in Rasheed Wallace, Shaquille O'Neal, Ron Artest and Vince Carter. Individually, these baggage-haulin' hotshots may be capable of altering the imbalance of power that resulted in a Lakers title a couple months ago. Or, as a group, they could end up doing little more than perpetuating the status quo. However, with each player peeking through the rearview mirror at his prime (in disparate departure rates), the aforementioned riskiness could create worst-case issues for the teams involved. So, with potential doom and gloom as our objective, let's take a look at how each move could sabotage its corresponding team in the coming season.

Boston Celtics

Rasheed "Raveheart" Wallace will be 35 years old when the C's open a camp designed for a return to the glory road of 2008. With the healthy return of Kevin Garnett's knee ranking as the main ingredient in Boston's stew, Wallace could be the appropriate spice. A 6-foot-11 post player, Wallace will give the Celtics flexibility by working efficiently at both inside positions. He has a high hoops IQ, championship experience, a competitive streak (how's that for a euphemism?), defensive chops and lingering skill. And, of course, he brings to this crowded table a history of vigorous dispute. The NBA's career technical-foul leader, Raveheart's anticipated Boston T Party has the capacity to erupt at moments that could sidetrack any team. For the record, I have faith in the ability of Garnett, Coach Doc Rivers and Boston's other veterans to keep Rasheed focused on the task at hand. Sure, Wallace seems unable to suppress his skill at going cuckoo, but there may be other issues. One potential problem is Rasheed's frequent stubbornness relative to his role in a team's offense. It should be noted that Wallace isn't a ball hog; he simply has a tough time squeezing off a deep three at a really inappropriate juncture. When he makes a three, it often is followed by a flow-choking heat check. Wallace also has a habit of not working a smaller foe on the low post even though he's a very good post player. This nitpicking should be accompanied by my admission that Wallace figures to be a tremendous acquisition for Boston. But even if he performs at a level far above his now-modest, title-seeking pay grade, earning big minutes might create less burn for center Kendrick Perkins. Perkins, who has perfected the mean scowl, may not appreciate less playing time. Perhaps dissension will ruin the C's this season. Hey, Wallace is known as a great teammate, so this is a long shot ... but that's why we're here.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Even dime store Maslow practitioners would insist that LeBron James has sufficient self-actualization qualities to withstand a one-year Shaquille O'Neal media storm. He may even enjoy the company. And now that he's truly embracing the teddy bear phase of his life, Shaq really could make good on his public commitment to bringing LBJ an O'Brien Trophy. But can he avoid a glib retort or two after not sniffing the ball in the post for extended periods? The touches really could be infrequent at times. When defenses require the Cavs to embrace moments of pick-and-pop philosophy, can Shaq remain mum when Zydrunas Ilgauskas is summoned from the bench to knock in some 15-footers? Let's take a look at defense. Now 37, it's Shaq vs. Biology. Even if he summons enough team-oriented mojo to work at rebounding and moving his tootsies on pick-and-roll defense, O'Neal may lack the bounce to make it happen. He loved the trainers in Phoenix; will there be similar therapeutic schemes for Shaq's hips and glutes in Cleveland? And if any defensive immobility is exploited, defensive-minded coach Mike Brown could go smaller and quicker in an effort to deal with agile front-line players on other teams. If Shaq sits, will he throw fits?

Los Angeles Lakers

Right, lob a beer cup at first-year Laker Ron Artest and all title-defense bets are off. Or we can use the focus-robbing properties of Tinseltown as a threat to Artest's recognition of Phil Jackson-Kobe Bryant protocol. "How about admitting he's not nearly as good as advertised?" The above question was supplied by an assistant coach employed by a Western Conference team. According to this allegedly objective observer, Artest's ballyhooed defensive ability is a bit overblown. "Well, he can still guard better than a lot of guys," the coach said, "but his lateral quickness has diminished, and he has a tendency to make defense more personal than team oriented." The coach was referring to a player neglecting rotation requirements for the self-aggrandizing appeal of limiting the point total of the opponent he's guarding. Anyway, we also should remind you that Artest averaged more than five 3-point attempts per game. We're not sure where that many bombs will come from within Kobe's interpretation of the triangle offense. If they occur, things could get dicey. "He takes a lot of bad shots," the coach said of the soon-to-be-30-year-old Artest, who was about 40 percent overall and 39 from downtown as a Houston Rocket. "And he can't fill the lane on the break like the kid (Trevor Ariza) he's replacing. Ariza was a better help defender, and on offense, he worked off of Kobe and the Lakers' bigs. I'm not sure if Artest can be happy doing that. "He's built like a tank (260 pounds), so you also have to wonder why he only gets about five rebounds and four free-throw attempts per game." That's an interesting point of view, although let's remind everyone that a whiff of championship in the air can do splendid things to a player's commitment to blending.

Orlando Magic

Now 32, Vince Carter has down shifted from his fantastic inability to live up to yet another Next Michael Jordan billing and arrives in Orlando just hoping to qualify as a Hedo Turkoglu upgrade. Those who endorsed the trade that brought Vince and Ryan Anderson from New Jersey believe Carter will be provide one-on-one creativity at the end of games and shot clocks. While acknowledging Turkoglu's ability to run an offense as a 6-foot-10 point forward, the pro-Carter crowd credits Vince with similar play-making ability. But we're registering Carter's potential for defensive lapses as one reason this move may not work out for the Magic. The defense of stellar two-guards is where the emerging Courtney Lee (off to New Jersey) will be missed. We also are wondering how long it will take Dwight Howard to quit smiling when Vince calls his own number while Orlando's center has a defender sealed on the block late in games. Well, Jeff Van Gundy checked in as a big fan of the deal. And we're pretty sure Jeff and brother Stan are quite close. So maybe there's room for a shot-happy prince in Dwight's Magic Kingdom. The variables of experience and ring motivation could make acquiring Carter a front-office masterstroke. But it should be noted that — in all four cases — there's no guarantee that becoming wiser will translate into doing wiser.
Tagged: Nets, LeBron James, Hedo Turkoglu, Magic, Shaquille O'Neal, Celtics, Suns, Cavaliers, Kevin Garnett, Ryan Anderson, Kendrick Perkins, Pistons, Courtney Lee, Rockets, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Metta World Peace, Lakers, Vince Carter

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