<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The first verbal commitment of the NBA off-season has yet to be made public, and actual signings remain forbidden until July 16, but the Indiana Pacers appear to be inching closer toward taking Jermaine O'Neal's name off the list of available free agents. Pacers president Donnie Walsh spent a good portion of his Monday discussing fine points with Arn Tellem, the agent for O'Neal, as sentiment grew around the league that O'Neal was virtually off the market. "Arn says (O'Neal) wants to be here, and we certainly want to get the contract done," Walsh said. "I feel good about (negotiations)." Walsh emphasized that an agreement has not been finalized but said the Pacers' intention to give O'Neal a seven-year maximum contract worth an estimated $120-plus million was made "clear from July 1" to O'Neal's camp. Tellem could not be reached, but league sources indicate that an O'Neal representative called the Dallas Mavericks on Monday to cancel the 24-year-old's scheduled visit to Dallas later this week. It remains to be seen whether O'Neal still plans to visit San Antonio as scheduled Wednesday; one source told ESPN.com it "looks like Jermaine isn't visiting anywhere." Spurs officials, who hosted New Jersey's Jason Kidd on a recruiting trip Sunday and Monday, also could not be reached. </div> Doesn't even seem like he will be visiting San Antonio or anywhere else....looks like pacers will get a deal done.
Once again the money is stronger than the desire for a ring... But in 7 years he will be rich enough to sign for the minimum with a contender...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "magicfrankie":</div><div class="quote_post">Once again the money is stronger than the desire for a ring... But in 7 years he will be rich enough to sign for the minimum with a contender...</div>The Spurs could have offered him just as much. It is loyalty, not greed that persuaded him to stay in Indiana.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "magicfrankie":</div><div class="quote_post">Loyalty doesn?t buy big houses and cars... and it doesn?t win championships either...</div>You are missing my point. You said, "Once again the money is stronger than the desire for a ring...". but the Spurs offered him just as much as the Pacers did so your comment doesn't make much sense. Loyalty is what kept him on the team whether it buys cars and houses or not.
The Spurs can't offer him the same as the Pacers can, since there is a rule that prohibits that.. Free agents will always be better off money-wise if they re-sign with their team... But ofcourse loyalty is one of the things that matters for him, since the Pacers took him out of a really bad situation in Portland. I just don?t think it?s a real smart move, since I don?t see the Pacers going anywhere in the next years... No one would blame him for going to the Pacers and build a dynasty there together with TD.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "magicfrankie":</div><div class="quote_post">The Spurs can't offer him the same as the Pacers can, since there is a rule that prohibits that.. Free agents will always be better off money-wise if they re-sign with their team... But ofcourse loyalty is one of the things that matters for him, since the Pacers took him out of a really bad situation in Portland. I just don?t think it?s a real smart move, since I don?t see the Pacers going anywhere in the next years... No one would blame him for going to the Pacers and build a dynasty there together with TD.</div>Wrong, no rule prohibits offering Jermaine O'Neal thirteen million dollars a year when you are under the cap.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "magicfrankie":</div><div class="quote_post">The Spurs can't offer him the same as the Pacers can, since there is a rule that prohibits that.. Free agents will always be better off money-wise if they re-sign with their team... But ofcourse loyalty is one of the things that matters for him, since the Pacers took him out of a really bad situation in Portland. I just don?t think it?s a real smart move, since I don?t see the Pacers going anywhere in the next years... No one would blame him for going to the Pacers and build a dynasty there together with TD.</div> i think you meant spurs.
meh. maybe the Spurs can try and get Brand. I dont think that'll happen. they could sign a good big man for a year.. and then wait until next season for Brand or KG
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "thefranchise3":</div><div class="quote_post">if olowakandi is available that would be perfect...</div> I hate kandi..he sucks big time..he didn't even play that much this year....he won't be a good signing
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "allnet":</div><div class="quote_post"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting "thefranchise3":</div><div class="quote_post">if olowakandi is available that would be perfect...</div> I hate kandi..he sucks big time..he didn't even play that much this year....he won't be a good signing</div> he isnt that bad... the Clipps fans treat him like sh!t.. he gets no love out west... he should go out east where everyone isnt so big... he'll be a legitment signing...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "Spartanfan2003":</div><div class="quote_post">Wrong, no rule prohibits offering Jermaine O'Neal thirteen million dollars a year when you are under the cap.</div> I guess you are right... can't find this rule anywhere, although I thought I had read about it... I guess I'm confusing it with something else... my bad...
