O'Neal wants to play for the Nets

[ToddMacCulloch11]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...rade/index.html</p>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If Jermaine O'Neal gets his wish, he will not be playing for the Indiana Pacers next season. If he gets his dream, he will be suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant.</p>

While here Sunday for a charity basketball game hosted by Baron Davis and Paul Pierce, O'Neal said he doesn't want to be a part of a Pacers youth movement and that it would be in his and the team's best interest to part ways.</p>

"I would welcome a trade to the Lakers," said O'Neal, who averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots last season. "Indiana has given me the opportunity to establish myself as a really good player in this league, but they're into rebuilding and going really young, and I'm just not in a position physically to go through another five to six years with a lot of losses and a lot of down time."</p>

....</p>

If the Lakers once again fail to deal Bynum for a proven All-Star, Kidd could be the benefactor: O'Neal said he would also welcome a move to the Nets.</p>

"Los Angeles and New Jersey would be my top two teams," O'Neal said. "I think L.A.'s a real possibility and I think New Jersey's a possibility too."</p>

The idea of O'Neal coming to New Jersey quickly put a smile on Kidd's face.</p>

"I think that would be a great addition for us if we had an opportunity to get a guy like Jermaine," Kidd said. "He comes every night to play and he's a great person and a great basketball player. It would be a huge move."</div></p>

 

[CelticKing]

What would the Nets have to give up? Krstic, Jefferson and who else? </p>

Imagine Kidd, Carter, JO</p>

Second best trio behind C's. </p>

 

[cpawfan]

Kidd is a horrible GM, so him wanting JON tells me it is a bad idea

 

[ToddMacCulloch11]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>

What would the Nets have to give up? Krstic, Jefferson and who else?</div></p>

I would imagine now that he came out and said "I don't want to be here" and everyone knows the Pacers (kind of) have to move him, they'll get less in return for him then they would have before that became public knowledge.</p>

Then again, there are probably some GMs out there that would stillthrow them a ton in return for him.
</p>

 

[zєяσ]

If we go for JO, it would probably have to be a 3-4 team deal imo.

 

[cpawfan]

The Lakers are a far more desperate team and are more likely to give up what Indy wants.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Lakers are a far more desperate team and are more likely to give up what Indy wants.</div></p>

The Nets want Lamar Odom.</p>

Maybe they can get in on that deal.</p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Lakers are a far more desperate team and are more likely to give up what Indy wants.</div></p>

The Nets want Lamar Odom.</p>

Maybe they can get in on that deal. </p>

</div>
that'd be nice. either way, the nets need at least 3 teams involved in a trade with los angeles or indiana to make anything happen. </p>

 

[Real]

Does he want to win? He shouldn't go to the Lakers then. They're not winning any titles anytime soon.

 

[cpawfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'>Does he want to win? He shouldn't go to the Lakers then. They're not winning any titles anytime soon.</div>
Neither of his top two choices are

 

[Real]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'>Does he want to win? He shouldn't go to the Lakers then. They're not winning any titles anytime soon.</div>
Neither of his top two choices are
</div>
We've got a hell of a much better shot to come out of the East than they do to come out of the West.

 

[cpawfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'>Does he want to win? He shouldn't go to the Lakers then. They're not winning any titles anytime soon.</div>
Neither of his top two choices are
</div>
We've got a hell of a much better shot to come out of the East than they do to come out of the West.</div>
The Celtics had a much better shot to draft Oden than the Blazers did too.

 

[Real]

[quote name='cpawfan'][quote name='Real'][quote name='cpawfan'][quote name='Real']Does he want to win? He shouldn't go to the Lakers then. They're not winning any titles anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
Neither of his top two choices are
[/QUOTE]
We've got a hell of a much better shot to come out of the East than they do to come out of the West.[/QUOTE]
The Celtics had a much better shot to draft Oden than the Blazers did too.

[/QUOTE]
I wasn't aware that the NBA playoffs ran on a lottery system. </p>

 

[Dissonance19]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Lakers are a far more desperate team and are more likely to give up what Indy wants.</div>
I don't know. Lakers seem content sitting where they are and making those small moves. I'm not so sure they'd pull the trigger before the Nets would.

 

[cpawfan]

[quote name='Real']

[quote name='cpawfan'][quote name='Real'][quote name='cpawfan'][quote name='Real']Does he want to win? He shouldn't go to the Lakers then. They're not winning any titles anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
Neither of his top two choices are
[/QUOTE]
We've got a hell of a much better shot to come out of the East than they do to come out of the West.[/QUOTE]
The Celtics had a much better shot to draft Oden than the Blazers did too.

[/QUOTE]
I wasn't aware that the NBA playoffs ran on a lottery system. </p>[/QUOTE]
All you have is a better chance on paper at this point, just like the lottery.

 

[cpawfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dissonance19)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Lakers are a far more desperate team and are more likely to give up what Indy wants.</div>
I don't know. Lakers seem content sitting where they are and making those small moves. I'm not so sure they'd pull the trigger before the Nets would.</div>
Kobe will be keeping the pressure on the team to make a move.

 

[GrandKenyon6]

Jermaine O'Neal is oft-injured and soft. He is a low percentage fadeaway shooting big man that gets easily frustrated and is constantly whining. That being said, if there was some way to obtain him without giving up Nenad, I would more than happily accept him on the Nets. Even if we did have to deal Nenad, it still might be worth it. It probably would be. For all his faults (and there are quite a few), he is still an All-Star caliber big man and All-Star caliber bigs don't grow on trees. He is not a cancerous thug whose game is not conducive to winning basketball in any way like Zach Randolph is. Something needs to be done to keep up with the rest of the rapidly improving East, and a trio of Kidd, Carter, and O'Neal is more than adequate. Adding marginal players to a mediocre team will have us fighting for a playoff spot, not fighting for a conference championship. The Bulls are loaded, the Cavs have LeBron James, Detroit is still there, and Boston has the best triumvirate of players since the late 90's Rockets boasted Drexler/Pippen, Barkley, and Olajuwon. With our roster the way it is, that leaves us fighting with Toronto, a team clearly on the rise and with great depth and scoring, Miami, which still has Shaq and Wade, Washington, which still has one of the league's most explosive offenses despite its lack of depth and size, and Orlando, which has the best young big man in the NBA and an accomplished scorer as his sidekick. Considering that the Bucks and Bobcats have also vastly improved and the Knicks and Hawks have made some changes as well, I'm not too optimistic about our season if our roster stands the way it is. </p>

Jermaine O'Neal isn't a franchise player, nor is he a very good leader or effective primary scorer, all things he's forced to be on the Pacers. On the Nets, he wouldn't have to worry about carrying the franchise or leading it and he wouldn't be the primary offensive option. He's not a great rebounder either, but he's still significantly better than what we have. Playing for the Nets would put Jermaine in the greatest possible position for him to succeed. Kidd and Carter would do wonders for him. He would get more easy looks than he's ever gotten before and his athleticism and ability to finish around the rim would open things up for them too. Carter wouldn't be constantly triple teamed and teams wouldn't be able to clog the middle like they've done in the past. Jermaine would also give us a defensive presence inside that we haven't had since Kenyon, and even then Kenyon wasn't a very strong shot blocker (though I believe that and his low rebounding totals had more to do with him being asked to guard perimeter players than it did with his ability).</p>

Let's say we do trade Nenad. We would still have a big man rotation of O'Neal, Magloire, Boone, Collins, and S.Williams. For Eastern Conference standards, that's excellent. We would have one of the biggest teams in the East, and size wins. Remember in 2001-2002, the last time we had the biggest team in the East? We won the conference. Yeah, Kidd should've been MVP but we started 6'9 Martin, 6'10 Van Horn, 7'0 MacCulloch and had 7'0 Collins and 6'9 Williams off the bench. That team was huge and its size was one of the biggest reasons we won. </p>

I would be happy going to war with Kidd, Carter, Wright, O'Neal, and Magloire as my starters. Jermaine isn't the greatest rebounder, but Kidd and Carter are both superb rebounders for their positions and rebounding is Magloire's biggest strength. We'd be a good rebounding and defensive team with plenty of offense in the halfcourt. How is that not better than what we have now? </p>

For those that say if we land O'Neal we'd diminish Jason's effectiveness because we would detroy our running game..nonsense. We haven't been a running team since 2003-2004. Jason Kidd will be effective in any system. Obviously he is better suited to run, but to say that he loses his effectiveness because he's not on a fast break oriented team is beyond ridiculous. And besides, Wright and Boki both run so the fast break wouldn't be completely gone. </p>

I love RJ as much as anyone, but what many posters fail to realize is that he is replaceable. Pretty easily replaceable in fact. Wings are a dime a dozen in this league. Honestly, if we were to start Kidd, Carter, and Jermaine, I don't think Antoine would have any problem filling in at the 3 and being our defensive stopper. He showed in the playoffs that he can play. He was playing great defense, making his jumpers, and even occasionally driving to the basket and finishing. He just needs time and confidence, and if the playoffs were any indication, he's certainly getting there.</p>

Injuries are definitely a concern with O'Neal, but Jefferson has missed the majority of 2 of the last 3 seasons and Krstic is coming back from a torn ACL. Obviously they are a concern with them too. </p>

The Kidd, Carter, Jefferson trio will never get it done. The rest of the conference has improved and the time for them has past. I'm not saying that Jermaine would get it done for us, but isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Jermaine would give us a better chance. Trying again with Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson is clearly insane. We need to shake things up. Hopefully Thorn realizes that. </p>

 

[JCB]

I agree with GK6's post. With what we have now, we're not winning anything. Might as well make some changes.

 

[Enigma]

The present Nets team has probably plateaued as a unit. They are a second round team and maybe just maybe if fortunate could sneak into the finals. Their chances of winning everything is slim to none. That is why they need to make a deal. Look around the league, there just arent that many 20/10 players around. I'd do the JO deal easily.

 

[Netted]

I just hope O'Neal gets traded to some team before the season starts so we don't have to deal with any trade rumors during the season.</p>

 

[ZAE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Enigma)</div><div class='quotemain'>The present Nets team has probably plateaued as a unit. They are a second round team and maybe just maybe if fortunate could sneak into the finals. Their chances of winning everything is slim to none. That is why they need to make a deal. Look around the league, there just arent that many 20/10 players around. I'd do the JO deal easily.</div>Welcome to S2, hope you like it!</p>

</p>

As for O'Neal, I said it before and I'll say it again. I would only like the trade if we give up RJ, Krstic and Collins for O'Neal and Granger and I know the Pacers won't do it.</p>

 

[Enigma]

Thanks ZAE, I finally decided to check it out.

 

[reganomics813]

I like how he wants to go to the team with the league's most selfish player first instead of the one with one of the league's premier guys at making his teammates better. Kinda shows you where his head is at. He's basically choosing LA because it's nice there. I'm not surpised but this should be a major red flag to anyone who favors morgaging half our depth for this guy.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (reganomics813)</div><div class='quotemain'>I like how he wants to go to the team with the league's most selfish player first instead of the one with one of the league's premier guys at making his teammates better. Kinda shows you where his head is at. He's basically choosing LA because it's nice there. I'm not surpised but this should be a major red flag to anyone who favors morgaging half our depth for this guy.</div>

agreed. it's pretty ridiculous he'd rather go to a team thats prolly gonna go no where than a team that he could make a championship contender by joining.

 

[GMJ]

You guys think there's anyway of getting O'Neal without giving up RJ?</p>

Krstic, Collins, Nachbar, First Rounder? eh?</p>

I think we can contend with what we have now, seeing as we have no massive weaknesses (got a couple big men, got a bench, got some shooters, got a backup PG)</p>

For those who think this team is still a 2nd rounder, acknowledge that the team has gotten better from a personel and strategic standpoint...give us the benefit of 3 months playing as a unit before giving up.</p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>

You guys think there's anyway of getting O'Neal without giving up RJ?</p>

Krstic, Collins, Nachbar, First Rounder? eh?</p>

I think we can contend with what we have now, seeing as we have no massive weaknesses (got a couple big men, got a bench, got some shooters, got a backup PG)</p>

For those who think this team is still a 2nd rounder, acknowledge that the team has gotten better from a personel and strategic standpoint...give us the benefit of 3 months playing as a unit before giving up. </p></div>

for me, 2 months is enough.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

GM, how would the salaries work?

 

[TucsonClip]

Sems to me KO wants to play in a large market with a playoff contender. JO on the Nets would be nice, but I think it is more likely he ends up in LA.

 

[lukewarmplay]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>

You guys think there's anyway of getting O'Neal without giving up RJ?</p>

</div></p>

Sure- trade Carter instead.</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrandKenyon6)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Playing for the Nets would put Jermaine in the greatest possible position for him to succeed. Kidd and Carter would do wonders for him. He would get more easy looks than he's ever gotten before and his athleticism and ability to finish around the rim would open things up for them too. Carter wouldn't be constantly triple teamed and teams wouldn't be able to clog the middle like they've done in the past. </p>

</div></p>

This is the only part of that excellent post with which I disagree.</p>

JON would not draw defenders into the paint to "clog the middle" any more than RJ would.</p>

In fact, he's an offensive downgrade. He'll shoot a lower percentage and make fewer foul shots than RJ if both players are 100%.</p>

</p>

</p>

</p>

</p>

(Now, Pau Gasol, a REAL threat in the paint, would be an upgrade over RJ in every way.) </p>

</p>