Aug

6

Reports Say Pacers’ O’Neal Wants To Go To Lakers

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

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Reports published Monday in the Indianapolis Star Monday say that Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal told a reporter in Los Angeles that he wanted to be traded to the Lakers or he might opt out of the final two years of his contract after the upcoming season. O’Neal reportedly made the statements at a charity basketball game which he attended but did not play in because?he is recovering from off-season?knee surgery. The Pacers All-Star big man is due $ 20 million this year and $44 million over the following two seasons. O’Neal’s agent Arn Tellem released a statement saying his client has not asked Indiana to trade him to the Lakers and that any reports to the contrary are incorrect. Los Angeles and Indiana reportedly discussed a possible O’Neal trade a few weeks ago, but the Lakers were reportedly unwilling to part with center Andrew Bynum, a player the Pacers are said to want. Some sources close to the Pacers say that O’Neal has never forgiven the team in general, and Pacers President Larry Bird in particular for firing former coach Isiah Thomas shortly after O’Neal signed his contract a few years ago. Bird released a statement responding to the published reports, saying that any trade for O’Neal would have to give the Pacers equal value in return.

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