Chad Ford from ESPN on the Herd's radio show today: *feel free to lock and merge this if necessary* - Garnett to L.A. still very alive - Lakers/Wolves need at least a 3rd team to make everyone happy - Pacers want to be part of the deal but Wolves don't want Jermaine O'Neal - Wolves want Celtic's No. 5, and is going through the Pacers to obtain it - Celtics don't want Jermaine for No. 5 either (unless Paul Pierce demands it) - Pacers stuck looking for another team that would trade a high pick for Jermaine **Regardless what happens** - Expects Lakers to make some kind of trade happen sometime around draft day for Garnett, Jermaine, or possibly even Randolph - Says Lakers must trade before the draft or risk of loosing their pick's value, unless they make a deal with another team to use that pick to draft a player that other team wants (kind'a like what the Lakers did with the Hornets in '96 by telling the Hornets if they draft Kobe at 13, they'll gladly exchange Vlade for him)
Well at least the Lakers have their ducks in a row with 3 potential options. I'm still curious who the Lakers plan on dealing to acquire Randolph, and have they conceited trading Odom & Bynum for Jermaine? You know who deserves the blame in all of this, is Isiash Thomas. If he didn't make that agreement to swap picks with the Bulls, Pacers could have traded JO to the Knicks for Pick #9.
Oh and guess what? Paul Pierce wants out if no veteran trade is made... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">According to a league executive, Paul Pierce has finally told team management that unless the Celtics come out of this week with a talented veteran co-star for him, they should expect him to make a public declaration soon after Thursday's draft that he wants a trade. "Danny is under tremendous pressure, from inside and outside, to get a deal for someone done this week," one league executive said. </div> Sounds like a great Hollywood script this is starting to evolve into... Hopefully the Lakers get a good ending out of this.
Pierce coming out puts a hell of a lot more pressure on the Celtics to bring in an established star. Jermaine O'neal? That seems to be their only option as Kevin doesn't want to go to Boston.
I'll see if I can find the article, but I read that Jermaine and Danny Ainge don't get along at all (not sure if anybody mentioned this already). Apparently they criticized each other in the playoffs a year or so ago and neither one is willing to play in the same organization. Of course that could all change if Ainge starts to really feel the pressure from Pierce. His job is on the line at this point.
^ ya there's been articles about that out there. Basically the only stars the Celtics can land right now are Marion, J.O. since KG says he doesn't want to play in Boston. Same with Marion, since both those players can opt out after next season, don't expect the Celtics to bring in those players. While J.O. doesn't want to play in Boston either, he has a couple more years left on his deal so he's a more secure bet. He would also satisfy Peirces request for a star veteran, and perhaps in the year two or three years he is under conract there, he would have a change of heart and like it in boston. Basically, because of Paul Peirce's demand, J.O. is the Celtics best, and most legitimate option. ....Which is good for LA
