Seems it is going to be a busy week for the Raptors and in turn yours truly. I was going to leave this for tomorrow but this story is getting far to much play in the media to leave it alone. So in case you have been under a rock and missed the news. There is a major rumour that the Toronto Raptors are in talks to acquire Jermaine O’Neal. The deal would be for T.J Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the Raptors First Round Pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
I don’t think anyone is unaware that I am a supporter of T.J Ford. That being said I have grown to accept the fact that the chances of him being a Raptor are about as good as a snowman not melting on Miami Beach. That being said I am not a fan of this deal at all. Jermaine O’Neal is not a guy that I am a fan of at all. He is just as much of an injury risk of as Ford. There is no question that O’Neal is a big name but he to me is a guy on the down side of his career. O’Neal is also a guy with a very troublesome attitude to me as well. This is a huge risk to me and not one worth investing 45 million dollars in for the next 2 years. I am much more on board with the deal that would bring Boris Diaw here from the Suns. If there is any truth to that at all.
I am not sold on O’Neal in any way shape or form. Could a change of venue make O’Neal a different player and have a better outlook. It is possible and I am not willing to throw anyone under a bus without at least giving them a chance to prove me wrong. Still the injury factor is not something that will change. Unless you think that O’Neal was doing a bit of a Vince Carter type act based on his unhappy feelings in Indiana. But he clearly has some issues and does not have a body that matches the age on his Birth Certificate.
There was a point and time where Chris Bosh was compared on par with O’Neal and since that point Bosh has been on the rise and O’Neal has been on the decline. Chris Bosh was named to Team U.S.A today and there was a time that O’Neal would have been in that conversation. But not now and same can be said for NBA All Star Games. Bosh is a regular in the East Roster and O’Neal is no longer a guy considered.
I do seem to be in the minority on this topic. But I admit that O’Neal has never been a player that I was high on even when he was a high quality player. Many will feel that this is about T.J going to me. But it is not about that to me at all. From a value standpoint this is getting a heck of a lot for T.J Ford. If I thought O’Neal was worth that value of his contract this would be a slam dunk victory for the Raptors. All this being said this is something that has not happened and could just be something 24 hours from now that will be an after thought.
What is clear from this is that T.J Ford has more value than most would have expected. The other issue in all of this would be in a draft class that seems to have some good players out there that I think can help this team address some of it’s needs I am not that happy about a something that sees Raptors trading out of the draft. It does fit the Bryan Colangelo mold of risk taking though. He took a risk in getting Ford in the first place. I would see this as an even bigger risk in his departure.
Doug Smith’s Blog on This Topic
An Update (June 25th 7pm) Yahoo is saying Deal is done For JO/Ford
Parker Leaving For Europe?
The other story is one that quite frankly I do not understand. Anthony Parker has said to have signed with a team in Greece to play for them next season. Yet he still has a valid NBA contract for next year with the Toronto Raptors. Unless he has quietly been bought out by the Raptors which would make little sense. How this can go down if it is indeed true does not make sense to me. The NBA would not be to pleased to have players under contract to their league signing contracts elsewhere. It may all make sense when all the smoke clears but as for right now it is a complete mud puddle to me. Just the fact this is out there would suggest that Parker knows he was not part of the Raptors plans going forward. But for a guy that has seemed to be a very classy stand-up indivdual this seems odd to me. I see Parker as a guy that would believe in honouring his contract and in a sense his word. If this is true it would seem that my impression of Anthony Parker was not an accurate one. I mean the guy did commericals with Dora and Sponge Bob how much more squeeky clean could he be?
So I guess the best advice for this week is check the Dino Nation Blog often as it would seem there will be lots of news and rumours right up until the Draft Party we are having on Thursday. Which ironically if this trade for O’Neal is true the Raptors would have no picks in. Talk about being a buzz kill on the Draft Party. SO SAY IT AIN’T SO. At least give me a rumour that says Raps will get back in this draft if they trade out.
Tags: Anthony Parker, Doug Smith, Pacers, Raptors, Raptors Off-Season, Rasho Nesterovic, T.J Ford, Toronto Star, Trade Rumour
June 23, 2008 at 9:35 pm |
you are not alone in your dislike for oneal’s game or the baggage he would bring with him. I agree completely that he is a player on the decline and even @ his best was not the player that we have now in Bosh, and besides do we really want him as our starting center? We need some bruising size and toughness down low and I for one just don’t see him as that guy. The diaw trade does make more sense to me as it would help the perimeter defence and this alone would make life alot better under the rim without guys slashing and driving at will! And on top of all this do the raps really need to be hamstrung by O’neal’s huge salary for the next few years?
June 23, 2008 at 10:31 pm |
stu, I’d be all for this trade if JO wasn’t injury prone. He’s 29 years old, not exactly over the hill, his post up game is better than Bosh and he’s a good rebounder. He would complement Bosh very well. Picture him making the offensive move and Bosh attacking the glass going for the offensive rebound.
The Raptors have to prove something to Bosh, they have to prove that they’re willing to do what it takes to win, even if that means taking on some risks. I’d do this trade in a heartbeat BUT without the #17 pick. I think this draft is too deep to throw a pick like that away. If Indiana is willing to take on another expiring instead, do it.
June 23, 2008 at 10:57 pm |
Like I state in the Blog it isn’t like he has the body of a 29 year old. I have serious issues with his desire. I agree the Raptors need to make a statement to Chris Bosh. But making a bad move says something as well. Also I have great concern with if he can play in Raptors System. Last year he breaks down and this is at same point Pacers move away from halfcourt based offense. I don’t think that is just by chance. This is a major risk that just is not worth taking. I will be as happy as anyone if I am wrong. But I personally hope this deal just never happens.
June 23, 2008 at 11:16 pm |
I totally disagree with the fact you’re questioning Jermaine O’Neal’s attitude. He went into the stands in Detroit to defend a teammate who was being mobbed. You question his desire to win? Did he not shoot one-handed free throws when he had a serious shoulder injury a couple years ago? Jermaine O’Neal is a warrior and yes, he’s had his share of injury woes over the past four seasons but then again, so has T.J. Ford. I don’t know how many teams Jermaine has caused a serious locker room problem in.
June 23, 2008 at 11:24 pm |
Going into the stands and that entire mess is what ultimately screwed the Pacers. Ron Artest is at the Root of that though. But maybe it was the constant comparisons to Chris Bosh but I just have not been a fan of O’Neal. Everything you said based in fact but I just don’t seem him as a guy that is a winner. Being tough and being a winner is not the same thing. Ultimately I just am happy this deal appears to be off and it will at least draw more interest for Ford and perhaps drive up the price the Raptors can get.
June 23, 2008 at 11:45 pm |
Well the comparisons to Chris Bosh aren’t anything Jermaine was at the source of. He’s said in the past he respects Bosh and likes his game. We all know CB4 is the superior player in the grand scheme.
I understand you may have personal feelings about a guy but I don’t know how he could be questioned as not being a winner. When guys like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett finally succeed after years of doing what Jermaine’s been doing, they’re lauded but he obviously doesn’t have that type of respect. Toughness doesn’t mean you’re a winner but he has desire and the intestinal fortitude to play through serious injuries when he can. Being a winner has a lot to do with Ron Artest and the fact Larry Bird hasn’t been able to build around him well enough. Now it’s Granger’s team.
T.J. might draw more interest now but I’d love to see what else is out there that could’ve turned out as well as this could’ve. Boris Diaw? That’s all I’ve heard. I DO know if this is the team that starts 2008-2009, the Raptors are going nowhere.
June 23, 2008 at 11:54 pm |
It is a gut feeling I have Mark. I just think that a lot of what the Pacers have not been able to do he(JO)is at the heart of why Indiana never was able to get anywhere. I did say in the blog should this have happened I would at least give him a chance to prove my thoughts wrong. I think we get a different perspective sometimes when a guy comes to your team and town. Change of local can also do wonders for some players. But I just was not a fan of this for a lot of reasons.
June 24, 2008 at 11:07 am |
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June 24, 2008 at 11:54 am |
boris diaw for tj is too good deal, but i dont see diaw, being a better starter here, and oneal is such a bad deal, but the impact is sooo clear, so if this goes down lets hope this isnt a ben wallace thing cus its bound to happen
or in my world i would deal tj after the first month of the season, so we can see who wants to get rid of someone, like the pau gasol trade, the steal
we need a steal
June 25, 2008 at 4:13 pm |
Perhaps the raps should be waiting to include Rasho in any potential deal. Rasho is coming into a contract year, translation big numbers from him! why not let him produce and gain value and them trade him @ the deadline for something more as he will then be a very valuable asset for many teams.
also am I the only one totally underwhelmed by Boris Diaw? If you look @ his career numbers he just doesn’t impress.
June 25, 2008 at 6:27 pm |
For the Raptors to acquire any kind of a “Major Talent” Rasho Nesterovic must be part of the deal that beings that player to the Raptors. I think the value in Rasho is in his salary number and his play. This is not to say his play is unimportant. But the amount of cash that a team can have in cap space is FAR MORE important. So that does not change if you trade Rasho today or at the deadline. Boris Diaw is a player that Bryan Colangelo has a complete understanding of and if he thinks he can be part of this franchise going forward he would know better than anyone what he thinks about him moving forward. I find the issues with Diaw tend to be consistant play and his problems can be more of a mental nature than a phyiscal one. Colangelo stated in his press conference today that there are 4 to 5 deals involving T.J Ford. This is one of those 4 or 5. The Suns have been rumoured to be interested in Robin Lopez and that indeed may be part of a package for Diaw? We will see. Thanks for the comments Stu and welcome to the Dino Nation Blog Family if I had not expressed that earlier.
June 25, 2008 at 7:10 pm |
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