Pacers and Jermaine O’Neal About to Part Ways?
The last few years in J.O’s career with the Pacers have certainly not been memorable. He’s been injured, inconsistent, and the team hasn’t accomplished much of anything. To boot, he’s getting paid a boatload of money.
It might be time to sever the relationship, and Larry Bird sounds about ready to do just that.
“I’m sure he (O’Neal) will look at all his options, and we’ll look at ours,'’ Bird said. “Throughout the summer, we’ll probably be talking to some teams and seeing what kind of interest they have in him.
He hasn’t told us if he wants to stay here or if he wants to go somewhere else, but there comes a time in any player’s basketball career that you want to try to do what’s best for yourself and for your team.'’
“Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, Jermaine,” Bird did not necessarily add.
The Pacers are obviously desperate to get rid of O’Neal and finally start moving the franchise in a new direction. Finding someone willing to take him off their hands will make Bird and his staff’s summer a long and challenging one.
36 Responses to “Pacers and Jermaine O’Neal About to Part Ways?”
Apr.17 at 3:02 pm
what says:
Good player, terrible contract.
Apr.17 at 3:31 pm
Knick Fan says:
might as well welcome him to Gotham
Apr.17 at 3:42 pm
dma says:
by far one of the worse ’stars’ to date
Apr.17 at 3:55 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
He’ll be a Knick soon enough.
Apr.17 at 3:55 pm
JOE says:
4 SOME REASON I THINK HE WOULD BE GOOD 4 THE BUCKS
Apr.17 at 4:12 pm
Pro says:
Im scared Riley might be intrested in the other O’Neal…
Apr.17 at 4:14 pm
ESneed says:
man, they’ve been saying he was on the move for like the last 3 seasons…he was “for sure” going to be a Laker last summer…I’ll believe it when I see it!
Apr.17 at 4:49 pm
Michael Tillery says:
During the Granger interview, I didn’t sense a serious confidence in Danny that JO was coming back. But what ESneed said…
Apr.17 at 5:43 pm
nothin personal says:
That’s not even funny Russ. And I don’t even like the Knicks very much.
It’s funny though how the Knicks went from Undersized, to Underachieving to injury prone as far as their PFs go. I guess the word to describe them all would be incompetent…
Apr.17 at 5:53 pm
Z says:
Jermaine O’neal should have never had the ‘franchise’ tag to begin with. He’s a tweener in the sense that he’ll drop 25 and 10 against mediocre competition but will get absolutely crush by the Duncans, the Garnetts and the Stoudamires. With that said, he would be a tremendous third option on a championship team. The only problem is that he’s getting paid like a 1st option… whoopsie.
Apr.17 at 5:54 pm
Z says:
Stoudemires*. Although Mighty Mouse could prolly take him down low.
Apr.17 at 6:02 pm
peter, philippines says:
I bet the cavs are eyeing on him to help out lebron james
Apr.17 at 6:33 pm
daniel says:
i was watching some mixtape on youtube of him from his pre-knee injury years…man was that cat quick. he was making moves that guards make and dunking on everyone. hes probaly got like 70% of that mobility now
Apr.17 at 6:39 pm
Jason says:
They should part ways…they aren’t doing sh*t together. And peter…the CAVS are eyeing anyone right now to help out Lebron. LMAO!
Apr.17 at 7:09 pm
Cheryl says:
sounds like Webber in his waning years, daniel…
Apr.17 at 7:25 pm
Gumdrop says:
Good call Peter, the Cavs are one of the few teams that can match terrible contract for terrible contract.
Apr.17 at 7:30 pm
bballer says:
Russ, he’ll be a Knick only if Zeke is still there next season.
Apr.17 at 7:43 pm
Orlando says:
Good player…I think he can pretty much help any team, as long as he is not the main guy, he makes a great addition…cut his salary in half…
Apr.17 at 7:52 pm
AC says:
I’m with Cheryl on this one. Jermaine is still a bit better, but same story.
Apr.17 at 8:32 pm
Atrain says:
JOE…why do you think he’ll be good for the Bucks?? Just curious…as one of the few Bucks fans left
Apr.17 at 9:18 pm
Sesa says:
Man, how the mighty have fallen. He were the reason that the Pacers used to be called the Beast of the East.
I’m pretty much sure that teams like Kings, Hawks, or maybe the Nets could use his service
Apr.17 at 11:19 pm
JOE says:
LOOKING AT WHO THEY GOT NOW, HE CAN’T BE ANY WORSE. TRADE BOBBY SIMMONS AND CHARLIE V/OR DANNY G AND IT COULD WORK FOR THE BUCKS. AT LEAST IT WOULD CLEAR CAP ROOM IN A FEW YEARS AND TWO BAD CONTRACTS AWAY.
Apr.18 at 12:03 am
Kevin says:
the webber comparison isn’t far off in terms of how far removed JO is now from his prime.
Apr.18 at 2:48 am
Doc Fan says:
B4 his knees gave out,he was probably the best big man in the east.I still fondly recall that nets/pacers playoff series where he destroyed kenyon martin (who has a max deal).Injuries rob players like black rob at motels.And had he known isiah was gonna be fired,he would have never signed with Indy.They hoodwinked him.
Apr.18 at 4:50 am
jerky says:
strange the article does not mention the new CEO of the Pacers (and by sheer luck also owner) saying that JO would be a big part of the Pacers in years to come.
Hot seat? yes, LB is on it, if JO wants to leave they will try and help, if he wants to stay he’s staying, they just need to get him healthy instead of running him into the ground with getting back way to ealry everytime something happens, that only causes more injuries
Apr.18 at 9:48 am
Coach Greenfield says:
Trade to Denver please… for lets say Cash and a 2nd RD pick…
Apr.18 at 10:31 am
TERENCE ANG says:
GREAT PLAYER. BUT OFTEN INJURED THAN NOT. HE SHOULD PLAY IN A TEAM WHERE HE WOULD FIT AS A ROLE (BUT VERY) EFFECTIVE PLAYER. SPURS, LAKERS OR BOSTON??????
Apr.18 at 1:17 pm
Tomas says:
good thing mitch kupcake did not trade bynum and odom for him…
Apr.18 at 1:57 pm
TMT says:
A Bynum, Gasol, Jermaine front court? lol
Apr.18 at 2:13 pm
Sparker says:
when shaq came east, he said jo was the one center he might have to work against. but the last time i saw him play, chris bosh snatched a rebound from over his head in a way that just made him look old and slow. he’s not even close to an elite player anymore
Apr.18 at 4:26 pm
iLL wiLL says:
Grossly overrated. Nice player, horrendous contract.
Apr.18 at 4:54 pm
The Promise says:
@iLL wiLL:if hes grossly overrated then why do you call him a nice player?That just doesnt make any sense…hes aewsome when hes not hurt…if he gets healthy he can help a lot of team…if Gilbert dont resign with the Wizards they will have plenty of money to spend on him…Put him with Antawn Jamison and you will have a prtty talented team
Apr.18 at 5:10 pm
iLL wiLL says:
Okay, not grossly overrated, but he is pretty overrated. For the money he is paid, and the (non)production on the court aka playoffs, he just doesn’t cut it. Nice player, not a great player. Jumpshooting big man, who is pretty soft. He’s a good shotblocker though.
Apr.19 at 4:01 pm
Jay says:
before his knees injure, he was reli the best big man in the EAST …. he got speed and skills ….
Apr.19 at 9:45 pm
balogna sammich says:
he’s going to the hawks. Duh
Apr.20 at 1:00 am
reall says:
JERMAINE O”NEAL SHOULD BE TRADED TO BULLS, that would give them the inside presense they have been lacking.