Being the team player that he is, Jermaine O'Neal was kind enough to let the media know that he "would accept it" if the There are some pretty key issues that would keep anything of this nature from going down. But first, it's certainly worth noting that there are some good reasons why it might happen.
Now, on to those problems. The Daily News mentions there might be some issues getting Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird to the same table to put a deal together, but I would imagine any dislike would only make them eager to pull some shenanigans over on the other one. That aside, who the hell is Larry going to take back for JON and his 19 million dollar deal? The only really logical notion would be Zach Randolph, but, um, he doesn't really fit the image that Indy has been trying to shed recently. No offense to Z-Bo, of course.O'Neal didn't want to directly address coming to New York out of respect for the Pacers, but said Madison Square Garden was 'one of the most desired atmospheres to play in in basketball.'
According to O'Neal, the Pacers are in trade talks with several teams and it is no secret that Thomas has tried on several occasions to acquire O'Neal, whom he coached for three seasons in Indiana. O'Neal's high school coach, George Glymph, is on Thomas' staff.
Even if he did fit that image, what's the upgrade here? A jump shooting power forward that averages 15 and nine? Only this one doesn't play defense? Also, some players from New York's side would have to be added to make the deal work; two that would make it work are David Lee and Fred Jones, the latter of which has a three million dollar deal that is expiring. Although, I will say that I'm a huge personal fan of Lee and he kinda-sorta seems to fit that hard working, blue collar Indy role, right? Randolph helps Indy's cap a little bit more than O'Neal ... it might be Bird's last chance to dump JON at something close to full value ... and it's not like Isiah really cares about that whole "roster flexibility" thing anyway ... or maybe I should stop playing with the trade machine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-09-2008 @ 8:51AM
frank said...
Pau Gasol to the Lakers, Shaq to the Suns, Webber to the Warriors and now thomas wants Jermaine ??? but the only big difference is that Lakers,Suns and Warriors are contenders one player away to go all the way but the knicks pretenders have to change 80% of the current roster including the coach (thomas) so they can be contenders ?? maybe then??NOT .
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2-09-2008 @ 11:08AM
frank said...
Larry Bird was an excellent player a lot better then thomas but better yet Bird is a good business man as well so why is he going to take randolph ? (garbage)with a messy juice contract $$$$ NOT one more time Bird beat thomas in and out of court, AGAIN.
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2-09-2008 @ 11:36AM
frank said...
Dolan jr. in paper is a good business man ( his daddy) now thomas and him are trying to get Jermaine from the Pacers and dump randolph on them ?? first no one in the NBA wants that deal an average player with $$$$$ juice contract so are many players in the knicks roster not only thomas is a bad coach but worst yet a real bad business man as well but in this case he is got the right owners money is no object but money or not they have to rebuild this team sooner or later Miami ,Memphis, Minnie and Seattle have a much better chance to rebuild then the knicks will ever have, Done .
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