Laker trade talks shift back to Jermaine O'Neal...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Lakers shift sights to Pacers' O'Neal

BY MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, June 27th 2007, 4:00 AM
       
For the Lakers, no KG means Plan B.

With their bid to land Minnesota's Kevin Garnett all but dead, which can't make Kobe Bryant very happy, the Lakers yesterday restarted trade talks with Indiana about acquiring Jermaine O'Neal.

"O'Neal is available and the Lakers are interested," said an Eastern Conference GM last night. "That's what's being discussed now."

In recent weeks the two teams haven't been able to reach an agreement over which players would go to the Pacers for the 6-11 forward/center. The Pacers have insisted that the Lakers include teenage center Andrew Bynum in a deal with Lamar Odom, while the Lakers would be willing to part with Bynum only in a trade package for Garnett. But Minnesota wants more for Garnett.

With the Lakers moving onto O'Neal, the Suns stepped up their efforts to get Garnett. In a proposed three-way deal, the Celtics would get the Suns' Shawn Marion and Minnesota would land the Celtics' No. 5 pick in tomorrow's draft, along with a collection of players entering the final year of their contracts. For the deal to work, however, Marion would have to agree to a long-term extension with Boston. He can opt out of his contract after this coming season.

O'Neal had been part of a four-way mega-deal that would have sent Garnett to the Lakers. But that deal collapsed late Monday, reportedly because O'Neal did not want to go to the Celtics. There was also a question as to whether Boston wanted to pick up the remaining $63 million on O'Neal's contract over the next three years. But the source insisted that the Celtics are also involved in talks for O'Neal and would be willing to part with the fifth pick as part of a package.

The Pacers are open to moving O'Neal, although teams such as the Knicks who covet him don't have the pieces.

"He's an awful good player," team president Larry Bird said about O'Neal yesterday. "And anytime you've got a player of his caliber, you've got to be careful.

"If you do trade him, you have to get something back. Hopefully we can do something that makes our team better, whether it's Jermaine or whoever."



We're getting either Garnett or JO...Guaranteed.

[7even]

The Pacers have insisted that the Lakers include teenage center Andrew Bynum in a deal with Lamar Odom, while the Lakers would be willing to part with Bynum only in a trade package for Garnett. But Minnesota wants more for Garnett.

I can only quote Mr. Bryant when I say "Fucking ship his ass out"

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Hell no...Bynum alone, maybe. But Odom+Bynum?

[7even]

Hell no...Bynum alone, maybe. But Odom+Bynum?

But if you don't do it Kobe will keep on being a bitch. You HAVE to make a trade. And I'm * not talking about Cook for Head here. A real trade.

[wcsoldier]

What's the point of this ? If we givin up Lamar, there is no interest.. Why Indiana wouldn't want Lamar anymore

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Hell no...Bynum alone, maybe. But Odom+Bynum?

But if you don't do it Kobe will keep on being a bitch. You HAVE to make a trade. And I'm talking about Cook for Head here. A real trade.

"How good do you think Andrew Bynum is going to be in 10 years? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm trying to win this shit now." -Kobe

You can get more with Odom AND Bynum than just JO, even if that means moving them in seperate deals...PeACe

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

What's the point of this ? If we givin up Lamar, there is no interest.. Why Indiana wouldn't want Lamar anymore

Huh?

[7even]

Hell no...Bynum alone, maybe. But Odom+Bynum?

But if you don't do it Kobe will keep on being a bitch. You HAVE to make a trade. And I'm talking about Cook for Head here. A real trade.

"How good do you think Andrew Bynum is going to be in 10 years? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm trying to win this shit now." -Kobe

You can get more with Odom AND Bynum than just JO, even if that means moving them in seperate deals...PeACe

Moving them in seperate deals? Don't give Kupchak too much credit.

Lakers have to do a major trade this off-season. NO MATTER WHAT. Either a major trade to please Bryant, or a major trade involving Bryant. So tell me nigga, what you rather want? Trading Kobe or trading Odom+Bynum? Indiana is NOT shipping JO for less than those 2. And you don't even dare to think of some complicated trade. We're talking about Mitch here.

[wcsoldier]

^^^^ Indiana wanted Lamar and Andrew for Oneal... give me a reason, why Indiana will NOW trade JO without gettin Odom and Bynum ? Why would Indiana FO change their mind

[rik]

That jerk off Kupchak needs to find a way to get this deal done without givin up Odom.

JO+Odom+Kobe > Garnett+Kobe

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Hell no...Bynum alone, maybe. But Odom+Bynum?

But if you don't do it Kobe will keep on being a bitch. You HAVE to make a trade. And I'm talking about Cook for Head here. A real trade.

"How good do you think Andrew Bynum is going to be in 10 years? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm trying to win this shit now." -Kobe

You can get more with Odom AND Bynum than just JO, even if that means moving them in seperate deals...PeACe

Moving them in seperate deals? Don't give Kupchak too much credit.

Lakers have to do a major trade this off-season. NO MATTER WHAT. Either a major trade to please Bryant, or a major trade involving Bryant. So tell me nigga, what you rather want? Trading Kobe or trading Odom+Bynum? Indiana is NOT shipping JO for less than those 2. And you don't even dare to think of some complicated trade. We're talking about Mitch here.

And we're also talking about Jerry Buss...A guy who's done whatever it takes to win, every single time his back was against the wall. Fact of the matter is, you can get better than JO for Odom+Bynum...Those two aren't going out in the same trade unless it's for Garnett. I rather trade Bynum straight up for Artest than both Odom+Bynum for JO...PeACe

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

JO+Odom+Kobe > Garnett+Kobe

Obviously.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^^^ Indiana wanted Lamar and Andrew for Oneal... give me a reason, why Indiana will NOW trade JO without gettin Odom and Bynum ? Why would Indiana FO change their mind

Have you thought that maybe the Indiana FO realized that JO's value wasn't as high as originally believed? Why else would they go back into negotiations? Lakers made it abundantly clear that they're not giving up both Odom+Bynum...You do realize that there are other players we can send out, that may or may not appeal to Indiana, correct? Indiana feels that sense of urgency closing in, and Bird also wants a selection in the draft (possibly Lakers #19)...PeACe

[WC Iz Active]

I have a feeling this will go down tonight or early tomorrow.

[M Dogg™]

what's the Buss's boner about Bynum... trade his ass. You have a great young player you can build a team around, but you are trying to win NOW. Trade him for O'Neal. Odom/JO/Kobe is a team I would watch every single game they play. Fuck MN, I'm leaving my fiance and MN just to watch every game of the Lakers on KCAL 9 and Fox Sports West