Raptors land O'Neal. Ford headed to Pacers

[MapleLeaf]

From yahoo.com

NEW YORK – After on-and-off again negotiations, the Indiana Pacers have agreed in principle to send six-time All-Star Jermaine O’Neal to the Toronto Raptors for point guard T.J. Ford and the 17th pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, a league executive said Wednesday.

After nearly completing the deal earlier in the week, Pacers and Raptors officials needed to exchange more medical information on O’Neal’s left knee and Ford’s neck before finding a comfort level with the trade. It is believed both sides now are comfortable making the deal, though the trade won’t be complete until both O’Neal and Ford pass their physicals.

Toronto also will send Rasho Nesterovic and another role player to match up with O’Neal’s salary. O’Neal is owed $44 million over the next two seasons. He played just 42 games for Indiana a year ago with a left knee injury. O’Neal has expressed a desire to leave the Pacers for a contender.

Ford, who has a history of neck injuries, became expendable when Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo decided that he wanted to make Jose Calderon the franchise’s future at point guard.

Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a condition that narrows the openings the spinal cord runs through. He missed the 2004-05 season with the Bucks following neck surgery, and missed 13 games with a neck injury last season after Atlanta’s Al Horford leveled him on a breakaway layup. Ford has $25 million and two years left on his contract. Indiana had been searching for a point guard and Ford takes the job now.

Calderon is a restricted free agent, and Colangelo has insisted that he’ll match any offer for him. Clearly, the Raptors will belong to him now.

The Pacers would now hold the 11th and 17th picks in the draft.

 

[DJT]

wow. Woohoo! I love trades.

Hopefully they pass their physicals.

 

[Pugz]

WOW, I'd like to say watch out for the Raps.. I just hope Jermaine plays great and stays healthy.

 

[VC3]

WOW FCK ME IN THE ASS

WOW WHAT A RIP

 

[MapleLeaf]

C- Bosh
PF- O'Neal
SF- Bargnani or Moon
SG- Parker
PG- Calderon

Kapono off bench

 

[DJT]

C - ??
PF - Murphy
SF - Granger
SG - Dunleavy
PG - Ford

Could be a good line up right there. THey should be able to get some good bigs with at least 1 of those picks.

 

[elcheato]

There lineup basically stays the same but without TJ Ford because I"m just going to go out on a limb and say JO is not even close to his old self and he'll get injured again.. But nice deal for the Pacers, they get a promising PG with another pick in the draft and could possibly move up with two picks.

 

[The Young One]

They said O'neal will play center maple. I bet Lebron is somewhere pissed off

 

[AirForceFlash_3]

Wow the Raptors pretty much killed the Pacers, especially now that they have 2 very good low post presences and just like that became a much better rebounding team. Watch out for the Raps this year.

 

[elcheato]

Wow the Raptors pretty much killed the Pacers, especially now that they have 2 very good low post presences and just like that became a much better rebounding team. Watch out for the Raps this year.

The Raptors killed the Pacers? The Pacers traded a huge contract on a player who isn't even a guarantee to step on the court and play 20 games this year.. They are rebuilding, they don't want players making 20 million dollars. Plus they get a pick to help the rebuilding cause.

 

[DJT]

I agree with Cheato...the Pacers did not get killed in this at all.

 

[AirForceFlash_3]

JO might not be guaranteed to be healthy but if he is he sure has talent, plus, the Raptors had a surplus at PG and the pick wasn't a big hit. They definitely didn't lose much, if anything in this and JO's contract expires after this year.

 

[DJT]

I wouldn't call Ford + Calderon a surplus...

 

[AirForceFlash_3]

Well they obviously didn't want both of them and didn't need both of them. Calderon was obviously the better player and he needs more playing time while they could get a good backup for him or already have (I don't follow the Raptors so wouldn't know). So I kind of would call it a surplus.

 

[Dice-J]

Dang Bosh and O'Neal.

 

[.snowy]

Raptors benefit way, way, way, way....way more than the Pacers

 

[FLIP!]

finally. Rasho sucks and Ford has been a little unreliable. we can let go of the pick because we can still add peices in Free Agency

 

[-Torres-]

Jermaine will play C, he's taller, bigger, and stronger than Bosh.

C-O'Neal
PF-Bosh
SF-Moon
SG-Parker
PG-Calderon

If everyone is healthy, that's a strong lineup, with a decent bench.

 

[.loggie]

YES.. im so glad we didnt get boris diaw. now we need to bring roko ukic in from europe and were set

 

[Mexi]

wait for another star to come within he next month
Toronto is gonna pull a Boston lol

but seriously, i think the Raptors raped the Pacers. I get the feeling that JO is gonna be healthy for the Raps.
TJ is nice, but he's no star