A Sam Smith article so really so just throwing things out there.
Sam Smith
On Pro Basketball
Big Ben could use this helper
Time may be ripe for Bulls to deal for Pacers' O'Neal
October 16, 2006
I'm not even sure about this one. So let's think about this together. What if the Bulls made a run at Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal in a package that would include Luol Deng and the Bulls' rights to New York's first-round draft pick next year?
This presumes that the troubled Pacers would change course and go for a major rebuilding in the face of the strip-club ruckus at which Stephen Jackson fired a gun into the air. Jackson was booed by the home fans Saturday night in his first game since the incident that resulted in felony charges.
Jackson, his disguise not working—he shaved his head—said he merely was protecting his teammates. That would be a more reasonable explanation had he not said the same thing when he went into the stands in Auburn Hills, Mich., two years ago and attacked fans.
There's no question the Pacers have big image problems in a community growing embarrassed by its team. For now, it appears they'll forge ahead with their team as comprised, if not compromised. But they may have to reach a compromise.
It's becoming increasingly hard in conservative Indiana to embrace Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley, whose car was found to contain marijuana the night of the incident. If the team also starts slowly, it's quite possible it could look to trade. O'Neal would be the only player who could bring them value to rebuild.
If a team is going to rebuild through the draft, 2007 may be the year. Pacers general manager Larry Bird knows about the Boston Celtics' success through the draft with Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and then himself.
This next college class could be one of the best ever for big men. Eligible players include Indianapolis native Greg Oden from Ohio State, Spencer Hawes from Washington, Joakim Noah and Al Horford from Florida, Tyler Hansbrough from North Carolina and Josh McRoberts from Duke.
Giving up a season by going into the lottery always is painful. But a team can come out with talent that can carry the team for a decade. It's hard to see how these Pacers, with a core of O'Neal, Jackson and Tinsley, can be much more than a .500 team on the edge of the playoff race. It's the road to nowhere the Pacers were on in the 1980s.
And perhaps no one could offer a better package then the Bulls, for both talent and financial relief.
O'Neal, a perennial 20-point and 10-rebound low-post threat, makes $18 million this season. The Bulls would have to match salary, which would require Deng, P.J. Brown, Michael Sweetney and probably Chris Duhon. The only true core player lost would be Deng, and the Bulls will have to make a decision at some point on that issue.
Does anyone really believe that Andres Nocioni, who will be one of the most sought-after free agents next summer, will re-sign with the Bulls to be a backup?
This is a good problem to have, but inevitable when a poor team begins to emerge as a power after years of top draft picks. It's just a matter of making the right decisions. If you don't, you become the old Clippers. O'Neal would replace Brown at power forward and Duhon probably is the fourth guard, anyway, with the addition of the impressive
Thabo Sefolosha. Brown and Sweetney are in their final contract seasons, and Duhon has only one more left, giving the Pacers substantial salary-cap relief to pursue free agents.
The Pacers also would get the right to swap picks with the Knicks, which the Bulls have from the Eddy Curry deal last year. That means the Pacers, assuming they miss the playoffs, could have two lottery picks to begin rebuilding and Deng, an emerging young star.
Sure, one could argue that Deng and Nocioni could play together for the Bulls. But that would make for an awfully small lineup with Ben Wallace, none of them exceeding 6 feet 9 inches. And, sorry, but the Knicks look like they'll be better. Whomever the Bulls could get for that pick probably wouldn't help much until Wallace is done.
Watching the unbeaten Bulls in the brief exhibition season thus far, a low-post presence opposite Wallace would look awfully good. Why not go for it all now while Wallace still is Big Ben?
The Bulls look like a 50-win type regular-season team. But what about in the slower playoff games? Wallace figures to be at his best only for the next year or two. Why not try to add an offensive force to complement him now instead of waiting for Tyrus Thomas to emerge, and perhaps add another young big man in the draft?
One issue could be O'Neal, not generally known for his work ethic. But maybe that could change by being around the Bulls and Wallace, who always has scared O'Neal, and having a chance to finally win a championship. Certainly, it's something for both teams to consider
Chicago Tribune
Sam Smith
On Pro Basketball
Big Ben could use this helper
Time may be ripe for Bulls to deal for Pacers' O'Neal
October 16, 2006
I'm not even sure about this one. So let's think about this together. What if the Bulls made a run at Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal in a package that would include Luol Deng and the Bulls' rights to New York's first-round draft pick next year?
This presumes that the troubled Pacers would change course and go for a major rebuilding in the face of the strip-club ruckus at which Stephen Jackson fired a gun into the air. Jackson was booed by the home fans Saturday night in his first game since the incident that resulted in felony charges.
Jackson, his disguise not working—he shaved his head—said he merely was protecting his teammates. That would be a more reasonable explanation had he not said the same thing when he went into the stands in Auburn Hills, Mich., two years ago and attacked fans.
There's no question the Pacers have big image problems in a community growing embarrassed by its team. For now, it appears they'll forge ahead with their team as comprised, if not compromised. But they may have to reach a compromise.
It's becoming increasingly hard in conservative Indiana to embrace Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley, whose car was found to contain marijuana the night of the incident. If the team also starts slowly, it's quite possible it could look to trade. O'Neal would be the only player who could bring them value to rebuild.
If a team is going to rebuild through the draft, 2007 may be the year. Pacers general manager Larry Bird knows about the Boston Celtics' success through the draft with Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and then himself.
This next college class could be one of the best ever for big men. Eligible players include Indianapolis native Greg Oden from Ohio State, Spencer Hawes from Washington, Joakim Noah and Al Horford from Florida, Tyler Hansbrough from North Carolina and Josh McRoberts from Duke.
Giving up a season by going into the lottery always is painful. But a team can come out with talent that can carry the team for a decade. It's hard to see how these Pacers, with a core of O'Neal, Jackson and Tinsley, can be much more than a .500 team on the edge of the playoff race. It's the road to nowhere the Pacers were on in the 1980s.
And perhaps no one could offer a better package then the Bulls, for both talent and financial relief.
O'Neal, a perennial 20-point and 10-rebound low-post threat, makes $18 million this season. The Bulls would have to match salary, which would require Deng, P.J. Brown, Michael Sweetney and probably Chris Duhon. The only true core player lost would be Deng, and the Bulls will have to make a decision at some point on that issue.
Does anyone really believe that Andres Nocioni, who will be one of the most sought-after free agents next summer, will re-sign with the Bulls to be a backup?
This is a good problem to have, but inevitable when a poor team begins to emerge as a power after years of top draft picks. It's just a matter of making the right decisions. If you don't, you become the old Clippers. O'Neal would replace Brown at power forward and Duhon probably is the fourth guard, anyway, with the addition of the impressive
Thabo Sefolosha. Brown and Sweetney are in their final contract seasons, and Duhon has only one more left, giving the Pacers substantial salary-cap relief to pursue free agents.
The Pacers also would get the right to swap picks with the Knicks, which the Bulls have from the Eddy Curry deal last year. That means the Pacers, assuming they miss the playoffs, could have two lottery picks to begin rebuilding and Deng, an emerging young star.
Sure, one could argue that Deng and Nocioni could play together for the Bulls. But that would make for an awfully small lineup with Ben Wallace, none of them exceeding 6 feet 9 inches. And, sorry, but the Knicks look like they'll be better. Whomever the Bulls could get for that pick probably wouldn't help much until Wallace is done.
Watching the unbeaten Bulls in the brief exhibition season thus far, a low-post presence opposite Wallace would look awfully good. Why not go for it all now while Wallace still is Big Ben?
The Bulls look like a 50-win type regular-season team. But what about in the slower playoff games? Wallace figures to be at his best only for the next year or two. Why not try to add an offensive force to complement him now instead of waiting for Tyrus Thomas to emerge, and perhaps add another young big man in the draft?
One issue could be O'Neal, not generally known for his work ethic. But maybe that could change by being around the Bulls and Wallace, who always has scared O'Neal, and having a chance to finally win a championship. Certainly, it's something for both teams to consider
Chicago Tribune
Comment