INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal isn't demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he's open to the idea.</p> While O'Neal has been the subject of trade talk since the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the new discussion was stirred up Monday when SI.com quoted O'Neal as saying he would "welcome a trade to the Lakers" and mentioned the New Jersey Nets as another possible destination.</p> O'Neal, a six-time All-Star, downplayed the trade talk in an interview with The Associated Press.</p> "I don't think me saying I'd like to go with those teams is me saying I want to be traded," he said.</p> O'Neal said he recognized that the Pacers are rebuilding with young players and he might not be part of future plans.</p> "If they want to move in a different direction, I wouldn't be disgruntled about it," he said. "If I am traded, it would be seven great years I had with this team. And if I'm going to be here, I'd welcome it with open arms."</p> </p> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2963647</p>
He's probably going to opt out of his contract after this year anyway so the Pacers should be dealing him despite what he says.</p>
He doesn't have to request a trade when he keeps getting quoted about how much he'd like to play for other teams. I in no way doubt he doesn't have the cajones to go up to Bird and say trade me or else. But that doesn't mean his actions haven't said he'd really like one.
The media is funny, words get twisted so easily. Jermaine never said that he had asked for a trade, even in the initial reports, so I don't know where this is all coming from to begin with. Also, whether Jermaine truly wanted out or not, he obviously isn't going to say it publicly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>so when will gasol request a trade?</div></p> Probly not now sense they traded for that other Spanish guy.</p>
