Jermaine O’Neal Traded to Toronto Raptors for TJ Ford!
June 26th, 2008 – Dr. Anklesnap
Well we have our first significant off-season trade folks! Earlier this week we reported the ongoing trade discussions between the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers regarding a potential Jermaine O’Neal for TJ Ford swap. Well as of yesterday evening the deal is official. Provided both players pass their medical exams, next season Jermaine O’Neal will be sharing the front court with Chris Bosh and TJ Ford will be adding a scoring punch to the backcourt of the Indiana Pacers.
In the deal Indiana has agreed to send Jermaine O’Neal and their 41st draft pick to the Raptors in exchange for TJ Ford, the expiring contract of Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and the Raptors #17 pick in today’s 2008 NBA Draft. From the emails The Hoop Doctors have received in response to our report on the trade discussions, Toronto Raptors fans seem to be fairly excited about this move. In the few emails we received from Pacers fans, the majority were anxious to be rid of their malcontent superstar.
Now that O’Neal is coming to town, questions will arise in Toronto about how Sam Mitchell will integrate their acquisition with the former #1 pick, Italian player Andrea Bargnani. While some who are unhappy with the progress of Bargnani since being drafted will be hoping he is moved to the bench, others who view Bargnani as having the potential of being a 7-foot tall shooting dynamo like Dirk Nowitzki, will be seeking a shift of Bargnani from the 4/5 spot, to a starting role at the small forward position. There is a lot to be worked out before the start of next season for the Raptors. Questions will arise about whether or not Bargnani has the foot speed to guard other small forwards, or whether O’Neal can stay healthy manning the Center position for a full 82 games. But before we get ahead of ourselves, could there be more changes coming in Toronto before the fall?
As for Indiana, one would assume TJ Ford will take over the starting role at point guard for the Pacers. So what does that mean for Jamaal Tinsley? It will be interesting to see what other moves the Pacers make this summer or whether they plan to bring the oft-injured Tinsley off the bench behind Ford. The slashing Ford should excel in Indiana where he is now surrounded by shooters who can spread the floor even further for him to penetrate. Players such as Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger came on strong last season, both proving they are big-time NBA scoring threats. With the biggest gap for the Pacers being in the front court, they will undoubtedly be looking to get some serviceable big men for rebounding and shot blocking in the draft. The Pacers now hold the #11 and #17 picks in tonight’s NBA Draft.
Now that the first blockbuster trade has been announced, what else is in store before the week is out?
[...] – The Hoop Doctors [...]
Go Raps!! With O’Neal and Bosh in the paint the Raps will have a shot at winning the East next year. Especially if Calderon has another one of his big improvements in the off-season that he is becoming famous for.
Calderon, Bosh, O’Neal, alone is enough to be one of the top 2 teams in the east. If Bargnani can improve and Kapono and Parker shoot well the Raps will be tough to beat!!
bc can’t be done dealing. this move is like the celtics last year when they landed allen, and before they got garnett. the raptors still need a 3 who can create his own scoring opportunities and play d on the perimeter.
they have the mid-level to throw around, hopefully that can land them mickael pietrus.
this trade is a good one ONLY if both bosh and o’neal can stay healthy…one has gimpy feet, the other gimpy knees…not the foundation you want your frontcourt to be standing on.
so much for crawford huh? i thought that had some good momentum behind it, and it would have kept the draft picks and expiring contracts to land a big man.
[...] – The Hoop Doctors [...]
Raptors look like they have a chance at actually beating the celtics…even though I am a celtics fan, i also love the raptors (being canadian)..But I believe for the raptors to make it all they way like celtics did this year, they need to improve their defence tramendously, and that starts with the BIGS (Bosh and O’neil).. If these guys stay healthy, Winning the East wouldnt be the goal, winning the whole thing seems more like it..
Micheal
Well you can’t expect a team to adjust as fast because in my opinion Raptors gave up a lot for O’Neal. I mean the gave up Ford who was playing the best basketball of his career before getting injured.
As well as Nesterovic who is Raptors all time second greatest center who started playing the best basketball at the end of the season. The main factor like everyone said for both of them to stay healthy and be effective as Bosh didn’t play as many games as well he only 67. Which in a 82 game season without Bosh you might as well give Raptors 15 games to lose.
So like everyone said let Bosh and O’Neal stay healthy, hopefully Bargnani has a better season, and let Calderon be as great as he was last season then we would be alright. Hopefully they can get past the first round of the playoffs.
With so much pressure in the paint of off Bosh b/c of the addition of O’neal at centre the Raps will be a force to be reconned with this year. Lets wait and see my friends.
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