Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, June 24, 2008
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - The Indianapolis Star reports that there may be a deal in the works to send Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal to the Toronto Raptors.
The possible deal would send point guard TJ Ford and center Rasho Nesterovic to the Pacers and could possibly include Toronto's first-round pick, number 17 overall.
A possible stumbling block to the proposed deal could be the condition of O'Neal's left knee. The six-time all-star played just 42 games for Indiana last season and has missed significant time with injuries each of the past four seasons.
The Raptors reportedly would need to include another player in the package to even the deal out financially. O'Neal is scheduled to make $21-million dollars this season and his salary escalates to just under $23-million next season, the final year of the deal.
The Toronto Star reports that the Raptors are willing to unload Ford because of the emergence of Jorge Garbajosa at the point.
The Toronto paper reported over the weekend that the Raptors were shopping Ford and then number-17 pick to the Phoenix Suns in a deal for Boris Diaw.
Ford has two years remaining on his deal that will pay him $8-million dollars this season and has a player option for a third year. Nesterovic is entering the final year of his contract and is scheduled to make $8.4-million dollars.
The Pacers own the eleventh and 41st picks in Thursday night's NBA Draft and Team President Larry Bird has reportedly been looking to make a deal to acquire an additional first-round pick. Bird is scheduled to meet with the media late this morning for his annual pre-draft news conference.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.