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Jermaine O'Neal: NETS OR LAKERS?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ade/index.html
According to si.com, Jermaine O'Neal expressed thoughts on not becoming a part of the young Indiana Pacers. He has commented on playing alongside with either Kobe Bryan and the Lakers, or Jason Kidd and the Nets.
"
I would welcome a trade to the Lakers," said O'Neal. "
Indiana has given me the opportunity to establish myself as a really good player in this league, but they're into rebuilding and going really young, and I'm just not in a position physically to go through another five to six years with a lot of losses and a lot of down time."
The Lakers have tried to acquire O'Neal several times this offseason, but talks have reportedly stalled over Indiana's insistence that the Lakers' package include both Lamar Odom and 19-year-old center Andrew Bynum. The Lakers' refusal to part with Bynum, the 10th pick in the 2005 draft, cost them a chance at Jason Kidd during last year's trading deadline. The failed trade was the basis of Bryant's infamous videotaped tirade in a shopping center parking lot in which he said the Lakers should have dealt Bynum for Kidd.
"I was ready but you never know in this business," said Kidd, who was also in Los Angeles for the charity game. "Playing with Kobe makes the game easy. He's the most dominant offensive player and he's a competitor, and I love playing with guys who love to compete."
If the Lakers once again fail to deal Bynum for a proven All-Star, Kidd could be the benefactor: O'Neal said he would also welcome a move to the Nets.
"
Los Angeles and New Jersey would be my top two teams," O'Neal said. "I think L.A.'s a real possibility and I think New Jersey's a possibility too."
The idea of O'Neal coming to New Jersey quickly put a smile on Kidd's face.
"I think that would be a great addition for us if we had an opportunity to get a guy like Jermaine," Kidd said. "He comes every night to play and he's a great person and a great basketball player. It would be a huge move."
If O'Neal had to choose one destination, however, it would be Los Angeles. He recently
sold his home in Westwood after getting an unexpectedly good deal but said that he and his wife were already searching for a new house in Los Angeles and would love to make it a permanent residence.
Matt Barnes going back to Oakland
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6...nclick_check=1
Golden State re-signed Matt Barnes to a
one-year contract worth $3million.
Barnes acknowledged he was a little disappointed he didn't get the contract he thought he deserved. He said not having a deal grew more and more frustrating as the offseason progressed, especially while other players at the same position signed sizeable deals: Andres Nocioni re-signed with Chicago for five years, $38 million; Jason Kapono got four years, $24 million from Toronto; and Morris Peterson signed for four years, $23 million with New Orleans.
Some figured Barnes, who had a breakout season with the Warriors after playing for four teams in the previous three seasons, would command something close to the aforementioned deals. He expected some team to at least offer him the full mid-level exception (set at $5,356,000 for the 2007-08 season and increases annually).
Chris Webber to Mavericks?
http://startelegram.typepad.com/mavs_fullcourt_press/
Rumors have indicated that Chris Webber is close to signing with the Dallas Mavericks for a full midlevel exception of $5.36million.
As free agency starts to heat up again, the Mavs could be on the cusp of signing Chris Webber as a backup power forward, which would seem to make good sense. Some reports floating around suggest the Mavs could sign
Webber and James Posey by splitting the mid-level exception of $5.36 million (that could be a difficult sell since Posey made $6.4 million last season and Webber made $18 million. Obviously, Webber knows his value is far diminished, but would he accept less than the full MLE? Would Posey? -- of course, a possible sign-and-trade with Miami is one scenario to acquire Posey).
If both Webber and Posey signed (with no sign-and-trade involved), it would seem to make some sort of trade almost inevitable. For starters,
the Mavs already have 14 players locked into contracts on the 15-man roster. Webber and Posey would make that 16. The Mavs have a decision deadline on Pops Mensah-Bonsu of Aug. 31, plus draft pick Nick Fazekas signed a two-year, non-guaranteed rookie deal and rookie Reyshawn Terry is unsigned to this point.
Fazekas and Mensah-Bonsu, an affable, hard-working power forward whose defense is far ahead of his offense,
could be trade bait.
Al Jefferson seeks immediate extension
Al Jefferson is reportedly seeking a
starting point of $10 million on his next contract, and he wants to be extended now.
Re: NBA OFFSEASON(DRAFT, RUMORS AND TRANSACTIONS)
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