Jun

25

O’Neal A Raptor, Ford A Pacer

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under SDC Breaking News, Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central 

???? Jermaine O'NealT.J. Ford

It’s that time of the year when one day before any NBA draft, a flurry of trade activity takes place; this year is no different.? The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors were players on the trade front as according to Ric Bucher of ESPN The Magazine, the Pacers will send forward Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors in exchange for T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic and the Raptors’ #17 pick in Thursday’s draft.? The deal becomes official, contingent on both players passing physicals - which should be a mere formality; the trade, while beneficial for both teams, has risks attached.?

O’Neal played in only 42 games for Indiana last season while having his worst statistical year to date - averaging 13.6 PPG and 6.8 RPG after averaging 19.4 PPG and 9.6 RPG in 2006-2007; Ford, on the other hand, has a history of neck problems which began during the 2004-2005 season while a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.? He missed the entire 2004-2005 season as a result of an injury in February 2004; Ford played 72 games for Milwaukee in the 2005-2006 season before being dealt to Toronto after the season for Charlie Villanueva and cash.?

Ford played 75 games for the Raptors as the team won the Atlantic Division; however, last season found Ford playing in only 13 games with a neck injury.? Nesterovic averaged 7.8 PPG and 4.8 RPG last season while mainly a reserve.? O’Neal takes with him to Toronto a contract in which he is set to make $21 million this season and $23 million in 2009-2010 while Ford takes to Indiana a contract?with 3 years remaining and is worth about $25 million.? With the trade, Indiana will now possess the 11th and 17th picks of the draft while Toronto will sit this draft out.

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