Hoops

O'Neal Trade

Could Toronto have a bigger win than this for a trade option?
They get two years to test out o'neal. See if he can perform, after two, either cut him and use the cap room to replace him or trade him to a team mid season for goods because the other team may want the cap relief- aka "Brooklyn" Nets.

Plus they get rid of Ford who despite the positives, is still a Rondo esc player without a big three, which is pretty average at best really.

Calderon now takes over the point and will be good(not great) for them.

And the answer to my earlier question is that there is no-one at pick 17 that is going to help a team this year, and the chances of that player even being in the league after 5 years is 50/50.

Shin Splints, I realise they need a PG to replace Tinsley, but if you're going to give away your only franchise player in O'Neal, why not trash things properly to ensure you get good draft picks for a couple of years?

Part of the deal I was suggesting was getting the #8 instead of the #17. They could probably draft DJ Augustin or perhaps Westbrook there and get a quality PG of the future that way.

Charlie V just gives them a stop gap who could play PF and entertain the fans while they are rebuilding. He is perfect, because he comes on a cheap rookie contract and hoepfully won't be good enough to hurt their drafting position too much.

Obviously, Bird has something else in mind though. I was just throwing that out there as an interesting option that I would take over the TJ Ford one. I like it mainly because it might help Bogut out a lot, having defences keying in on O'Neal all the time.

Did I ever mention the time I went for the Grizzlies job? Unfortunately they went with Chris Wallace.

I told them that I thought Gasol was pretty good. They said "interviews over".

Next day, Michael Heisley called me up and said "missed it by THAT much".

Who the hell do they want at pick 17 that is worth trading a perenial all-star for!!!???

The deal hinges on a certain player being available...who? I know his stock is dropping but i just don't see Beasley skidding to 17th ;-)

I reckon its a risk worth taking for Toronto, Panther. If the trade goes through, he has obviously convinced the Raptors doctors that he can play.

Worst case scenario, he breaks down and only plays half a season, the Raptors are as good as they were last year, and they have a large expiring contract the following year to use as a very valuable trading chip.

Best case, his body has finally got the rest it needed and he is able to play like the old Jermaine - 20ppg, 10rpg, 2bpg - taking pressure off Bosh offensively and creating a tandem that has the potential to form a very formidable, agile keyway defence.

If these guys gel on both ends, the Raptors could challenge for the Eastern Conference for the next two years. Then they can assess their situation and either let O'Neal walk or try to sign him to a much more reasonable contract for his final years in the league.

On the other hand, if I were the Pacers, I don't know that I would make this deal. I still think O'Neal is the only player on their roster you could build a contender around. Big men like him don't come around often so I wouldn't give him up for a guy like TJ Ford. Chris Paul, yeah, but that aint happening!

Still, the rumours have been strong for a long time, so I guess Bird has given up on Jermaine for whatever reason and will happily trade him for 40c in the dollar.

Just had a thought, why didn't the Bucks offer the #8 and Villanueva or Yi (+ bad contract) for O'Neal?! I think that could be a better deal for the Pacers and Bucks. Oh well, too late now...

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