New Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal will wear No. 33 on the back of his quadruple XL wine and gold jersey next season, the team confirmed Friday via their website.

The 15-time All-Star chose the new digits because it corresponds with the number he wore in high school and at LSU before turning pro. The Big Witness — yes, that’s what we’re calling him — wore No. 32 when he played in Orlando, Miami and Phoenix (he wore No. 34 in Los Angeles from 1997-2004), but that number, 32, is already taken by veteran power forward Joe Smith. Apparently, Shaq and the Cavs couldn’t wait for free agent Joe to jet somewhere else this offseason. Got to sell those replicas now, man!

As you’d imagine, all of your Shaq-Cavs merchandise is available right here. This shirt is especially crappy.

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A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: Lakerhead Daily. Sasha Vujacic helps to find out what it takes to turn a pro free-throw into Shaq.
PF: Both Teams Played Hard. Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson and Magic Johnson. M to the freakin’ J.
SF: With Malice. Shaq looks likely to play trick-shot artist Bruce Manley in a game of H-O-R-S-E.
SG: SRI. Danny Ferry talks about the Shaq trade and how close the deal was to happening in February.
PG: The Blowtorch. Found item: The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ war room draft board.
6th: Deadspin. UNC’s Ellington is happy to be drafted, but sad to leave his 19-year-old Philly girlfriend.
7th: NBA Off-Season 2009. Ricky Rubio’s "other" Draft photo cracks me up.
8th: Barkley’s Mouth. Michael Jackson’s greatest hits relative to Thursday’s NBA Draft festivities.
9th: Bucks Diary. The numbers say Shaq doesn’t have the kryptonite to slow down Dwight Howard.
10th: Larry Brown Sports. Kevin Love on the Wolves taking three guards: "What are we doing?"

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Apparently tired of hearing his name tossed into Golden State-Phoenix trade rumors, Suns center Amar’e Stoudemire decided to up the ante this afternoon by tweeting some "breaking news" around 4 p.m.:

Relax, he’s joking.

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Right, Woj?

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