Re: Jermaine O'neal Daily Dime Article:<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bryant and O'Neal, Take 2?O'NealIn a quiet moment after most of the press crowd dispersed, Kobe acknowledged that he's heard the rumblings out of Indianapolis about another, younger O'Neal possibly working his way to the Lakers.The story, as covered in the season's final Weekend Dime , holds that Jermaine O'Neal -- according to at least one Pacers teammate we spoke with -- is hoping to end up in Hollywood alongside his longtime pal from the 1996 draft if his time in Indianapolis has indeed passed."There's not a lot I can say about it right now," Bryant said. "But if it gets to the point that Jermaine wants to be here instead of Indy, we'd love to have him. We'd be crazy not to."It must be noted that there are still no firm indications that O'Neal is urging the Pacers to trade him or that the Pacers are prepared to consider it.Mystery No. 2, of course, is whether the Lakers are willing to assemble a package that meets Indiana's demands.L.A. can certainly supply a first-round pick in the June draft -- with Indy facing the real possibility of losing their lottery selection to Atlanta as part of the Al Harrington trade if it's not in the top 10 -- but the Pacers would undoubtedly want Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum as well.While Kobe acknowledged Monday that he and Jermaine are "very close" to this day after coming into the league together, Odom goes back with Bryant as far as his favorite O'Neal does. Convincing the Lakers to surrender Bynum, furthermore, means convincing Jim Buss -- son of Lakers owner Jerry Buss and a driving force behind the drafting of Bynum with the 10th overall pick in 2005 -- to part with his pet.Of course, if the Lakers are going to dramatically upgrade the roster in the offseason -- as they flirted with at the trading deadline by making a run at Jason Kidd -- they're going to have to part with Bynum at the very least.One factor in L.A.'s favor: Unlike Minnesota with Kevin Garnett, which would probably have the Lakers at No. 29 on its list of prospective destinations for KG if it starts fielding tangible offers for him, Indiana would naturally prefer to send O'Neal to the West.</div>and here comes all the haters saying it will never happen and Laker fans think every player wants to come to LA. I know this thread will get that, so yeah...bring it on. I thought it was pretty interesting and since we all know getting KG off an opt out would be hard because he is supposedly going to re-sign and in which case he did and was on the trading block, Kevin Mchale, a Celtic who hates the Lakers, would never deal him to us. I think if we can land our hands on JO things would definitely turn around. We could package Lamar and Bynum depending on their preference. Anyway, just thought it was fun to think about and discuss.
Re: Jermaine O'neal This is the one reason I'm not going crazy at the thought that we might get swept. If the Lakers get swept, I'm willing to bet they get Jermaine O'neal. That would be the last straw. We've been hearing for 2 years how the team doesn't need to be changed, and they're just young, well now even the most optimistic of fans are saying this team isn't going anywhere. This is the first trade rumor in a LONG time having to do with the Lakers, that has a serious possibility of going down.
Re: Jermaine O'neal LO has grown on me, I'd hate to see him go.Even then, the team was playing very well this year before the injury troubles. Had this mess happend while the team was healthy, then yeah, a move may be warranted but, for now I think it is still too soon.
Re: Jermaine O'neal Getting Jermaine O'Neal isn't going to help the Lakers, except maybe a few games where he actually plays. He's one of the most injury prone players in the league, so the Lakers would be better off getting someone that can contribute for 82 games (ahem...Garnett).O'Neal has only played about 65 games on average since 2001 (high 77, low 44 - suspension).The Lakers wouldn't be dumb to get O'Neal, but they could definitely spend $15+ million a lot better.
Re: Jermaine O'neal <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brando @ Apr 25 2007, 11:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Doesn't Jermaine have a house in Newport Beach?</div>Yup, very close to Kobe's house.
Re: Jermaine O'neal <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Apr 25 2007, 11:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yup, very close to Kobe's house. </div>maybe thats why there good homies :dribble:
Re: Jermaine O'neal ROFL!!!Why the f*ck would we want Odom or Bynum? So we could become even more pussys? Get real: you don't have any players to give us.
Re: Jermaine O'neal <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Apr 26 2007, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ROFL!!!Why the f*ck would we want Odom or Bynum? So we could become even more pussys? Get real: you don't have any players to give us.</div>Yeah.... see here..... your not the GM.... so you got no say at all bi*ch. :beee:
Re: Jermaine O'neal <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Apr 26 2007, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ROFL!!!Why the f*ck would we want Odom or Bynum? So we could become even more pussys? Get real: you don't have any players to give us.</div>Indiana was willing to take less than that from the Lakers for Artest just over a year ago. Would a rebuilding team really be crazy to take a 19 year old Center who looks like he can be something and a 26 year old forward who could be a serious player down low in the East?
Re: Jermaine O'neal Wait....if JO a free agent if he opts out this summer? If that's the case we could try to just sign him. We are dumping Brian Grant's monster contract and he would just have to take a minor paycut.
Re: Jermaine O'neal <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Apr 26 2007, 06:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wait....if JO a free agent if he opts out this summer? If that's the case we could try to just sign him. We are dumping Brian Grant's monster contract and he would just have to take a minor paycut. </div>If that's true, that would make us instant contenders. Holy sh*t. Farmar with another year under his belt, Kobe, Odom, JO, and Kwame. That's a gritty, young defensive team that could compete for titles for a long time.
Re: Jermaine O'neal If JO ends up in LA, it would mean Odom would play SF which I don't know would work out. Maybe JO would play center and then have Odom at PF. Brown and Bynum would fill in for Jermaine and Lamar down low. Then you have Smush for one more year at PG until Famar is ready, plus Kobe and Walton. I like that lineup. :dribble:
Re: Jermaine O'neal <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (808Hornetsfan @ Apr 26 2007, 07:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If JO ends up in LA, it would mean Odom would play SF which I don't know would work out. Maybe JO would play center and then have Odom at PF. Brown and Bynum would fill in for Jermaine and Lamar down low. Then you have Smush for one more year at PG until Famar is ready, plus Kobe and Walton. I like that lineup. :dribble:</div>Well, Odom's natural position is SF so I don't think that would be a problem. Not to mention Farmar is going to start next year and Smush will be gone. I like your enthusiasm though.
Re: Jermaine O'neal Yeah I kind of remember Odom playing SF when he was with Miami. I didn't pay any attention when he was with the Clippers so I don't know about that. I want JO to go to the right team in terms of winning a championship and I think paired up with Kobe, he could do that. :dribble:
Re: Jermaine O'neal This would be sweet, the lakers would be constant defenders for the championship.
Re: Jermaine O'neal I'd love to see the Lakers give up Bynum and they'd probably have to trade Odom too. I'm down with that. I could see the Lakers getting farther in the playoffs, but they'd still need a little more to win a championship so I'd wait and see who else they get rid of/get before I say that.
Re: Jermaine O'neal We'd better pick him up. We need him down low. He maybe be injury prone but he is definitely a step up from Kwame and puts up good numbers consistently. Do it Mitch!
Re: Jermaine O'neal I don't like the idea. He is very injury prone, shoots a poor %, and IMO there are other players out there worth grabbing over an injury ridden player like him.This is a very big year for the lakers. There are a few good FA's this year (Billups and VC are the only ones I can recall), and you know there are a few superstars on the trading block (KG, possibly Kidd, possibly Gasol, etc...). Teams can be fixed up with great talent in one year's time, and they have a great chance at this. All I know is many of the players on the Lakers are losers and just won't get the team far (some are good players, but don't have the mentality or 'it' factor).
