Another alternative in the Celtics' big-man search has emerged. Jermaine O'Neal, a free agent center, has told ESPN that he has narrowed down his choices to three teams: the Mavericks, Nuggets and Celtics.

"Those are my favorites," O'Neal told ESPN.com "Those are teams that are going to compete [for a championship] next year."

O'Neal said he's still deliberating between the three teams -- all believed to be offering a portion of the mid-level exception to sign him -- and called the decision perhaps "the most important of my career because I know this is kind of my last run at it" in terms of title-chasing.

O'Neal, an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career at 31 years old, spent his past two seasons with Miami, and in 2009-10, he averaged 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in about 28 minutes per game (his lowest total since the 1999-2000 campaign with Portland).

With Kenrdick Perkins out until December (at least), and Rasheed Wallace retiring, Boston is actively looking to sign a big man through free agency, to the point they're even taking meetings with Kwame Brown. O'Neal obviously wouldn't provide any kind of long-term answer, but for now, he'd be a good addition, says CelticsBlog.

This I am okay with. Jermaine O'Neal is not a long term solution by any means, but he is like that old piece of scrap wood you use to keep your window open in summer time; Won't last forever, but it'll do for now.

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