Jermaine O'Neal To Toronto A Go...Again

by Cornrows on Jun 25, 2008 10:43 PM EDT

Mike Wells reports the trade of Jermaine O'Neal to the Toronto Raptors for TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17th pick is back on and this time the teams have agreed in principle on the deal pending physicals. Nice work Mr. Wells. Who's wrong now? I knew Bird was a lilttle too sensitive on the topic yesterday.

Big ups to Brent for posting the Yahoo! Sports report on the deal, as well. With multiple sources confirming these reports, it must be a go this time.

In this case, the pending physicals are more than a formality but I'd have to think both sides know that the key players (JO and TJ) have a history preventing a completely clean bill of health. Either way, we'll all pay close attention to the player the Raptors pick at 17 tomorrow night.

Needless to say, this is a huge step for the Pacers in transforming the roster for the future. Without one player absorbing a third of the cap, the team has room to wiggle around a little bit and plan for more moves. That is the bottom line with this deal. Gather a few assets and become more flexible at the same time.

This isn't about shoring up the point guard situation with TJ Ford. In my view, whatever Ford gives the Pacers will be a bonus. I know that sounds crazy when you see the $25 million left on Ford's contract, but this deal is about a fresh start for the organization. Not only does it clear JO's massive max contract number but it also moves a dominant personality in the organization. A personality that hasn't always been on the same page with management. It's been no secret that Larry Bird's demands of JO and JO's expectations of Bird have been in conflict. Now the organization is free of that wave of tension between the two which had to impact everyone no matter how much they downplayed the effect.

The way this week has gone, I'll wait until the organizations speak before I pay homage to the Jermaine O'Neal era in Indy. But I can tell you one thing, tomorrow is going to be a blast. See you at the Fieldhouse.

UPDATE: Bruno has a report up on the trade reports including a non-denial from Larry Bird.

Bird did not confirm the reports Wednesday night, but neither did he slam the door.

"There's no trade to announce," he said. "It's all speculation."

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ONE BIG LOOMING QUESTION...

Do we give Ford 11 now or wait until the sale is over???

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 25, 2008 11:11 PM EDT 0 recs

and

WILL WE LET NEW PLAYERS WEAR 7? or will we reserve the jersey from players wearing his number in the chance it is one day retired, kind of like how the Cincinnati Reds dont let players wear 11 because they’re waiting to retire Barry Larkins.

In Jermaine’s defense he has been to more All-Star games than any player in Pacers history and is the all time team leader in all shot blocking categories, fifth in scoring, yada yada yada…. It is a tough choice but for those who have argued for retiring 13 and 45 for you know who, I will have to say I still think Smits should have his jersey hung in the rafters but after him it would be tough for me to say we shouldnt retire JO’s

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 25, 2008 11:14 PM EDT 0 recs

I think the "BIG LOOMING QUESTION" is who the hell are we gonna get to take Tinsley?

Come on…some GM has to be dumb enough…this is the NBA after all…

by SethGrandpa on Jun 25, 2008 11:21 PM EDT 0 recs

VERY INTRIGUING...

“By the way, this delay also means there are still two weeks for other teams to get in on this trade and make it more than a two-way deal. (With luck, maybe it morphs into one of those indecipherable five-way deals that somehow involve the rights to an international player who was drafted five years ago but never got a sniff of the league. I have visions of Roberto Dueñas and Sergei Lishouk waiting anxiously by the phone to find out their new “team.”)

Whatever happens, the draft pick seems likely to stay in the Pacers’ hands, as the draft is within 24 hours. Tomorrow, the Raptors will choose whomever Larry Bird tells them to at No. 17 and then convey that player to Toronto in two weeks. But the other pieces (especially Ford and Nesterovic) could still be in play, as could the likes of Jamaal Tinsley. “

-John Hollinger, ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Onealtrade-080625

by SethGrandpa on Jun 25, 2008 11:24 PM EDT 0 recs

wow...

...now what am i sposed to do with my o’neal jersey?

in all seriousness, i’m not sure how i feel about this deal yet. if more teams become involved and tinsley does get traded as well, then its for the best. right now…i just don’t know.

by sleep research facility on Jun 26, 2008 12:14 AM EDT 0 recs

Jersey?

Haha, what am I supposed to do with my Jermaine O’Neal Eau Claire High School Jersey, pinstripe blue, my 88-89 rewind…. alll authentic…. and all staying in my closet right next to my artests, reggies, and smits… and my two pairs of jermaine shoes too…. next to my KGs, Pennys, and Jordans….. the only complainer is my girlfriend (from cleveland)... “what am I supposed to wear to games when I go with you?”, zip it ill buy you a Euroleague Stanko was my rebuttal ! hahaa

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

haha

damn i forgot about my JO sneakers…they’re somewhere under the bed behind about 30 other pairs of shoes.

maybe i should start wearing my reggie 87/88 throwback jersey more.

by sleep research facility on Jun 26, 2008 9:42 AM EDT up 0 recs

I have a genuine Ron Artest throwback jersey. Ha ha. It's awesome.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 1:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

Me too I got the 23 ABA and the 91 pinstripe ie the one from the fight! woo woo, I use to love Ron ill be honest with you, and I still love the guys game plus he is hilarious…. Cap N Jack never grew on me the same

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

Not just good, but GREAT trade

First Cornrow is absolutly right…we had to get rid of Jermaine O’Neal now it was the best move for everyone…Jermaine gets a fresh start in Toronto (with a not too shabby Chris Bosh). Maybe he’s now more mature and ready to lead a team in Toronto after everything that happened here…

Second We now have 2 mid-1st round picks in a deeper than average draft.

Third Whatever we get from TJ Ford and Rasho Nesterovic is icing on the cake….

by Hoosier@Heart-VolByBirth on Jun 26, 2008 12:27 AM EDT 0 recs

ESPN VOTE on the Pacers Draft!

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/poll/index?pCat=46&sCat=74

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:07 AM EDT 0 recs

PS:

I keep hearing Mike Miller might get Memphis the 2nd pick with their pick, lets use Dunleavy to do the same! God I would love to see that

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:13 AM EDT 0 recs

The problem is there is a big difference in value between the #5 pick and the #11

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 1:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah but Dunleavy is more valuable than Miller dont you think?

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:15 AM EDT 0 recs

I'm not sure...Miller has been consistent and Dunleavy basically had one big year.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 1:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

Bird should see if McHale loves him too and holler at the 3 pick, hmmm ? Probably not but we gotta do something…. lets just load up on smalls, trade Dunleavy pray we get the next big time center next year in BJ Mullens…. or draft Brook and Robin Lopez

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

Trade Dunleavy and draft Stephen Curry next year.

PROBLEMS SOLVED.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

so youre diggin Brook and Robin at 11 and 17 ?

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

Not really, but you could get other big guys.

Though again, it would be real comic gold if they stayed together. Two goofy looking brothers who roomed together and had a Disney Princesses poster in their room (this is 100% true). How could I argue with it? Ha ha.

The comment was really just how I love, love, love 3 prospects (Stephen Curry, Austin Daye, and Ricky Rubio) in next year’s draft and only really love Rose equally of all prospects this year.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 3:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

Duuuuuuude you look at the ESPN votes…. they have us getting Rush and Hibbert, im not sure if I would be too happy about that …. I would much rather Anthony Randolph and somebody else…. DJ Augustin and somebody else….. or Brook and Robin Lopez (that would just be hilarious, I know we shouldnt pick on hilarious, but I had to throw it out there because there is a chance)

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:16 AM EDT 0 recs

I voted Rush and Arthur, but I fully expect there to be better options at each pick.

Bayless/Gordon/Lopez/Love/Alexander and Jordan/Ajinca/Randolph/Koufos/Rush maybe?

It’s just unfortunate we can’t use the Toronto pick to trade up because it’s not ours.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 1:21 AM EDT up 0 recs

geez louise if Gordon falls man I would be so happy…. what would be do with Mike ma mike ma mike mike dunleavy? TRADE HIM lets trade him to the bobcats plus the 17th for the 9 and adam morrison

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:23 AM EDT 0 recs

Now we're talking...I've been waiting for a trade scinero involving Morrison...

Unfortunately I think getting salaries to match would be tough with the Bobcats. Plus, I don’t see a team trading a pick and then immediately trading again.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 1:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

http://slamonline.com/online/2008/06/adam-morrison-in-a-draft-day-deal/

they were talkin about him a bit….. it would be pretty sick if they got him and he had a Dunleavy like year from this year at his young age…. that would be awesome… but Gordon would be awesome to get

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up 0 recs

if DeAndre is there at 17 and they pass I will be a little let down and irate for a minute

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up 0 recs

Well as a Gonzaga student I'm biased, but Adam deserves another chance.

How about this:

We send Shawne Williams, Maceo Baston (who looks to be a throw in to the Toronto deal according to ESPN), and 2 future 2nd round picks to the Bobcats for Morrison.

It’s the only way I could figure out a trade with salary matching.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 3:24 AM EDT up 0 recs

then with 9 take Alexander/or Lopez and 11 Augustin

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:24 AM EDT 0 recs

and Bird can pass him Love Crush off on Morrison easing the loss of Dunleavy

Brent Jonathan Beck

by Brent Beck on Jun 26, 2008 1:25 AM EDT 0 recs

Yuck

I don’t get this at all for the Pacers.

They get some salary cap relief, but honestly, not very much. O’Neal has had his issues, but a talented big man with knee issues can lose a lot off his game and still be a very effective player (Camby, McDyess, Patrick Ewing, Amare, etc). Most of those guys tend to get over it.

Even at less than what he was he’s a scoring, shot-blocking big man on a team that really needs someone who can defend the basket (because their perimeter defenders are crummy).

Ford, on the other hand, is a hit away from never playing again, and he was hardly a top flight PG before that. So I think Larry Bird got rooked. The salary cap savings they’re getting aren’t that good.

by Sports2 on Jun 26, 2008 8:37 AM EDT 0 recs

Believe me

both parties need a fresh start. What JO could possibly bring on the court was not the critical issue. The Pacers have to break things down to rebuild the culture of the team and movin JO is part of it. I think he’ll do real well in Toronto.

by Cornrows on Jun 26, 2008 9:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree to an extent

But I guess I just think they could have done better. As a Bulls fan I’d have been pretty interested to see him move up there.

And as a casual Pacers fan, it just seems to me that
1. They could have done better than Ford
2. While he’s been a bit of a bum the last couple years, he was a guy who’s value was likely to go up a bit when he returns to health. The off-court issues with him weren’t much beyond him not playing and making a ton of cash.

I think attitude-wise, the Pacers could have make a pretty good “fresh start” simply by moving Tinsley. He’s the only guy I look at and really think I just have no desire for him on the team.

Well, Shawn Williams isn’t really good enough to justify his off-court issues but he’s cheap and can probably be redeemed by playing well.

by Sports2 on Jun 26, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

Chicago would've been nice

Nocioni could’ve brought a similar expiring, but no pick. I think at worst, Tinsley will be bought out.

by Cornrows on Jun 26, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up 0 recs

Really every player is one awkward landing on a jump away from being done.

Just look at Livingston on the Clippers.

People need to accept that this team isn’t a contender in the next few years, and even if they were their record without JO in recent years is about the same as with him.

by SethGrandpa on Jun 26, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs