Hooped Up

After a lot of back and forth, Larry Bird has started the revamping of the Indiana Pacers and has agreed to a deal in principal to send forward Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto For T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick in tomorrows draft.

This is a risky move for both sides as O’Neal and Ford have been hampered by injuries over the last few years. O’Neal’s injured left knee and Ford’s neck has sidelined each of them for much of the 07 - 08 season.

Hooped Up

Ford who is one repair away from Grant Hillism, might get moved in a draft night move for Jermain O’Neal.

The Indiana Pacers and Jermaine O’Neal could be parting ways in the near future.

The Pacers and Toronto Raptors have discussed a possible deal with O’Neal going north of the border with point guard T.J. Ford and center Rasho Nesterovic coming to Indiana, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. The deal may also include Toronto’s first-round pick (No. 17) in Thursday’s draft.

Indy Star

Multiple sources told ESPN.com that talks with the Indiana Pacers regarding a Carter-for-Jermaine O’Neal swap were dormant, but not dead, after the Nets spent nearly a week devoting their attention to the Kidd deal with Dallas. Another source said there had been preliminary discussions on a three-way trade that would include, among other things, Carter going to the New York Knicks, Eddy Curry to Miami and the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to New Jersey. Speaking with writers at the team’s headquarters Tuesday, Thorn was asked if the continued delays in the Kidd trade — first agreed to last Wednesday but not completed until Tuesday — had impacted him on other trade fronts.

ESPN.com

According to Jermaine O’Neal, the Pacers are in trade talks with several teams and it is well-known that Isiah Thomas has tried on several occasions to acquire O’Neal, whom he coached for three seasons in Indiana.

Thomas might try to move Zach Randolph, who last month was the subject of trade talks involving Milwaukee.

“The deal makes a lot of sense to me,” one Knicks player said on Wednesday.

“I think in this business you got to be willing to believe at some point, if your team struggles you are going to be traded,” O’Neal said Wednesday night. “I would accept it.”

New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal, who has dealt with constant injuries the past three-plus seasons, told The Star that he is willing to sit out the rest of the season to let his ailing left knee completely heal. O’Neal is having his worst season since 2000-01, his first with the Pacers.

Indianapolis Star

Jermaine O’Neal blames the Knicks’ 7-16 record on the players and not Isiah Thomas, the man responsible for assembling and coaching those players.

“I think the players have to put up a little bit more effort for the coach,” O’Neal told the Indianapolis Star. “They have to figure it out because they have a lot of athletes. Isiah is a great coach, but it’s up to the players to want to win, too. If the players don’t put out the effort they need to put out then it’s going to be a tough road for him.”

O’Neal’s support dates back to the days when Thomas coached him with the Pacers for three years. The two have remained close. In fact, O’Neal’s high school coach and mentor, Knicks assistant coach George Glymph, followed Thomas from Indiana to Knicks.

Thomas has tried on several occasions to acquire the power forward, a former All-Star whose play has declined in recent years.

Jamaal Tinsley said he will stay home more often and take a professional security official with him when he goes out.
He won’t be the first Pacer to hire protection.

Reggie Miller began doing so in the mid-1990s after he received threatening phone calls from New York Knicks ‘ fans following his playoff heroics in Madison Square Garden and continued the practice through the rest of his career.

Jermaine O’Neal, the team’s most recognizable and highest-paid player, has a bodyguard who accompanies him when he goes out and on road trips. The Pacers have a security official who travels with the team on all road trips.

Indianapolis Star