Rumor Blazers now pursuing Jermaine O'neal

Id love to see JO back in a Blazers uniform. I think he would be a great mentor for Leonard as well.

 

Could be useful short term if hes in shape, but once rolo and fleabag return, he won't get any PT.

And it would mean we'd be cutting Vic

 

Considering him and his family live in Dallas I'd say it's a long shot... But.. Who's the better team right now?

 

Well I understand he's a texas native, but so is LA. Once our team became a winner, Aldridge publicly said he wants to finish his career in Portland. Jerm can come to Portland and isn't required to play extended minutes like he would in Dallas. Jerm is a solid player, but he can't be giving you 20-30 minutes a game. Letting him find a gig where he can come in for 10-15 minute games, with the occasional 20-30 minute game is good for his health.

 

Has anyone watched him play recently? Can he still be effective? It ewould be cool to see his career come to a close in Portland in a full circle kind of way.

 

How old is he now? Thought he retired?

 

Jermaine's wife is from Portland. Jermaine loves Portland. His in laws told me he would love to come back here some day. I wouldn't rule it out.

 

Do they?

I know his wife is from Portland.

 

When he played in Golden State, he was still very good. He still has a post up game that can give you 5-6 high efficiency shots in the paint. His defense is still solid, with the ability to man up players and help out on the weak side. He's not the same stud as he was 5-7 years ago, but he's definitely a player that can contribute, IMO.

 

Stotts is a players coach, Portland is an unselfish team with a great core and we're contenders as it stands. I think Jermaine would love to finish his career here.

 

I think O'neal is 36 and started his career at 19

 

Well he's definitely headed somewhere, and there are two explanations for why our name is being mentioned.

1.) Our current situation makes us an obvious suitor and adds an additional name for the media to sell, thus making the situation more interesting to the consumer.
2.) He is headed to Portland

Either way...


So he's on step 2, and step one is family. Which feasibly means there was a situation to work out. This could be deciding whether to stay home, or move.

I think it's safe to say that it is either Dallas, or Portland.

 

Am I seriously reading some of you saying no because of CHEMISTRY?? ARE WE TRYNA BE BOY SCOUTS OR ARE WE TRYNA WIN A RING? Nevermind that oneal is a good locker room guy. Trade trob, wright, or Barton. Trade all three for all I care.

 

Some of us value the long term plan over the short term goal.

 

The chemistry thing cracks me up every time. We aren't adding a starter to our lineup. We would be adding a rotation player to bolster our depth. Several NBA championship teams have tinkered with their roster mid-season.

 

If we were healthy and trying to pick up a guy even though we're doing fine? Yeah let's talk chemistry. But at this point, I think the team probably would greet a player like Jermaine with open arms...

 

Jermaine is even more of a rental than Kaman so you need to know he's in game shape and healthy but come playoff time, Rolo, Kaman Freeland and O'neal are a force to be reckonned with

 

Mo was a rotation player, but that didn't stop Lillard from being upset that we didn't re-sign him. How many guys can we show the door before enough is enough?

 

And which part of that plan includes Claver?? Or Barton? Or Wright?