<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Indiana Pacers' O'Neal pushes Lakers trade By Mark Montieth mark.montieth@indystar.com Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal wants a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, and says he will opt out of his contract after the upcoming season if he doesn't get one. Jermaine O'Neal, who spent the final games of last season on the Pacers bench because of a knee injury, wants to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. O'Neal, speaking with a reporter for Sports Illustrated's Website, made his comments while appearing at a charity basketball game in Los Angeles. O'Neal did not play in the game, as he continues to recover from off-season knee surgery. "I would welcome a trade to the Lakers," O'Neal said. "Indiana has given me the opportunity to establish myself as a really good player in this league, but they're into rebuilding and going really young, and I'm just not in a position physically to go through another five to six years with a lot of losses and a lot of down time." The Pacers and Lakers are believed to have discussed a trade involving O'Neal this summer, but have been unable to reach agreement. Various reports have claimed the Pacers are holding out for Lakers center Andrew Bynum to be included, while the Lakers have refused to do so. O'Neal, who said he also would welcome a trade to New Jersey, will earn nearly $20 million in the upcoming season. He can opt out afterward and give up the $44 million he would be owed over the final two seasons of his contract. He said he will do that "if things don't work out this year." Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird issued a statement saying the team would have to get "fair market value" in a trade. ?In response to Jermaine O?Neal?s published comments today regarding a trade, we have stated repeatedly that if we can make our team better through a trade, we will do so. Jermaine has become an All-Star player with the Indiana Pacers and in any discussions regarding him or any of our other players, the expectations for the franchise and our fans is to receive fair market value in return if a trade is to be considered," Bird said.</div> http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...6/1062/SPORTS04 Maybe Mullin will see this as an opportunity to pounce. He's already made a blockbuster with Indy before, and of course he's got their phone number handy. What would Indy want for him? Can we package a s&t Pietrus with other players, or is that against the rules? Maybe they want Harrington back!? Pietrus+POB+Harrington+Lasme for JO Hah, that's a laugher. I doubt Indy would even consider it. The only thing is that, because O'Neal is threatening to opt out if he doesn't get a trade, Indy will feel the pressure to make a move. All we need to do is out-bid the lakers, who at one time balked on Odom+Bynum for JO, I believe. They don't want to give up baby-Shaq, apparently. I don't want to give up Monta/Beans/Marco. I don't want to give Wright either. I guess you have to put chips in to play, though, but I want a steal of a deal! Pietrus+POB+Lasme+Harrington. That works for me!
Send the Trade Exception to Minnesota for Ratliff & McCants Then send Ratliff + McCants + Wright + Foyle + 1st Round pick to Indy for O'Neal
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Send the Trade Exception to Minnesota for Ratliff & McCants Then send Ratliff + McCants + Wright + Foyle + 1st Round pick to Indy for O'Neal</div> First off the TE is just a shade under 10 million so its not big enough to allow us to get Ratliff and McCants. I'm fairly sure it doesn't have the same 125% rule as regular trades or else it would probably work. We would have to trade for something with the same size salary or smaller. Second off I don't think a JO trade could go down for a few reasons. One being I wouldn't give up any of Wright, Biedrins, Monta and probably not Belinelli either for JO. I just don't think hes worth that as a guy who hasn't been at his best the last few years and has had injury problems. He'll be making 20 million per year and he'll be 29 this coming season. Also I think Indy wouldn't trade with us just to save face from the raping Mullin gave them a few months ago. They probably wouldn't take back Al Harrington or Stephen Jackson, two of our decent sized contracts that would need to be used to make a trade work. That leaves much more limited options.
<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">First off the TE is just a shade under 10 million so its not big enough to allow us to get Ratliff and McCants. I'm fairly sure it doesn't have the same 125% rule as regular trades or else it would probably work. We would have to trade for something with the same size salary or smaller. Second off I don't think a JO trade could go down for a few reasons. One being I wouldn't give up any of Wright, Biedrins, Monta and probably not Belinelli either for JO. I just don't think hes worth that as a guy who hasn't been at his best the last few years and has had injury problems. He'll be making 20 million per year and he'll be 29 this coming season. Also I think Indy wouldn't trade with us just to save face from the raping Mullin gave them a few months ago. They probably wouldn't take back Al Harrington or Stephen Jackson, two of our decent sized contracts that would need to be used to make a trade work. That leaves much more limited options.</div> For some reason I thought it was in the $11M range. I'm not sure how the S&T works withe being to spend 1.25% of salary matching or not. Interesting point about Indiana not wanting to deal with Mullin again after the last trade. Regardless of how it plays out, there's a strong chance Jermaine O'neal ends up in the Pacific Division.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">For some reason I thought it was in the $11M range. I'm not sure how the S&T works withe being to spend 1.25% of salary matching or not. Interesting point about Indiana not wanting to deal with Mullin again after the last trade. Regardless of how it plays out, there's a strong chance Jermaine O'neal ends up in the Pacific Division.</div> Agree, LAL has been rumored to be after him for some time, there was a rumor a while back with the Clips wanting to send Kaman and some extras for JO, Sacramento is always in the mix with big name players on the trade block. Warriors may make a push but like I said I just think it would be a nightmare for Bird/Walsh giving up their best player to the same team who robbed them just 6 months ago.
