May 25, 2013

Cleveland Rumor Mill: Cavaliers, Jermaine O’Neal Trade?

May 30, 2008 by 15 Comments

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jermaine O’NealI want to personally thank those of you who forwarded on a recent ESPN piece that briefly mentioned the possibility of a Cavaliers trade with the Indiana Pacers.  It’s a tough time of season to be a Cavs fan, especially with the successes of last year.  For those of you that have no clue what I’m talking about, Chad Ford recently wrote the following:

Trade rumors keep coming hot and heavy, though most of them aren’t worth repeating.

But here’s one intriguing one I heard today: The Cleveland Cavaliers could trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and the No. 19 pick to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal.

At first glance, my feelings were, “Wow, Jermaine O’Neal?”  And then I read on…

It’s an interesting idea, but when I called team sources to find out if there was any truth to it, they shot it down as bogus.

Still, I’d watch both teams closely. I think the Pacers will move O’Neal this summer if they can, and I think the Cavs are definitely going to try to strengthen the supporting cast this summer for LeBron’s sake.

Now, I’d love to know which team’s sources were bigger advocates of calling the trade “bogus.”  Part of me wonders if the Cavs would even consider moving two big men for a guy who seemingly cannot finish a season without a stint in street clothes.  The other wonders if Indiana would move a kid with a ton of talent and leadership skills for an aging, arguably overpaid big man and a guy who is a sub-par offensive player at best. 

And then after thinking about things a bit longer, I recalled the last time that Chad Ford “broke” a rumor about the Cavaliers.  Funny, I’m stillwaiting for Larry Brown to be “added to the payroll.”  I realize that Mr. Ford is paid to discuss “rumors.”  But if a blogger does it, he’s chastised for it – thus, I feel a bit of a double-standard and find myself boycotting any and all things Ford until they are confirmed. 

Opinion of Chad Ford aside, do I like the deal?  In short answer: No. 

Ilgauskas is painfully due $11 million next season, and has an option for $11.5 million for 2009-10.  If you think that is bad, consider the games missed for Jermaine O’Neal, and then couple this with the fact that he is under contract for $21 million next season, and just a hair under $23 million for 2009-10.  Nearly double what we’re currently paying Big Z, and the main reason why it would cost so much in a trade – including a draft pick that we desperately need to turn into something.  Water in to wine, perhaps?

Expiring contracts or not, this would be nearly $40 million tied up in O’Neal and Ben Wallace – both of which would not be “expiring” themselves until after next season. 

I’m a firm believer that Anderson Varejao will not be in a Cavaliers jersey after next season.  Unless he takes a large step backwards, I do not feel that he’ll accept his player option and some team will sign him for more than the $6 million that he would be due.  Thus, whatever we do with him in this off-season does not alter my opinion one way or another. 

And while I continue to accept the pleas of fans saying that we need help in the front court, I struggle to grasp this while I see Ilgauskas and Joe Smith as two of the better offensive centers in the league.  Are either of them able to run the floor a la Amare Stoudemire?  Not at all.  But since when is this a running team?  Now, if we get an offensive coach in tow that wants to install some sort of D’Antoni-esque play, I’m all for it.  Let’s go get someone like Antawn Jamison.  But until this happens, I’m prioritizing my moves in the backcourt. 

Admittedly, I love me some Baron Davis.  I do find it odd that he coincidentally strung an 82-game season the year he was due a new contract, but I also think that we would flourish with his electric style of play.  Plus, he and LeBron could sport two of the better beards in the league.  But, for now, I feel Davis is a pipe dream attached to a unicorn.  What I would give to be a fly on the wall during these summer meetings…

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  • MacNip

    No interest in O’Neal here. I would like to see a player here who can stay on the court

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com RockKing

    If the Cavs did this trade, I would stop being a Cavs fan. I don’t even think I’m joking. When was the last season Jermaine O’Neal was relevant? 2004? 2003? Yeah, good call….lets trade our starting center, 6th man, and first round draft pick for a guy who hasn’t been healthy (played in 70+ games) since 2004 and hasn’t been good since 2006. No thanks.

    Please, someone explain to me how this is good for the Cavs. They got 14 and 9 out of Z last year. So for O’Neal’s extra 4 or 5 points per game, they’re also going to give up a draft pick and their 6th man? I just don’t see it.

  • cbus

    If they go after J O’Neal I would be salty, he is all right, but I would wait and see what the Clippers and Brand are going to do before I go and give my pick up for some one that only plays 45 games a year on average, it seems like less since he signed that mega deal.

    I would personally like to see another guard, or a pure point to take the ball handling pressure of LeBron late in games so he doesn’t have to initate the offense every time down the floor. I’m down for some Baron Davis…..maybe they would give coupons for Red Baron pizza’s every time he had a triple double!

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com RockKing

    Yeah, Elton Brand just isn’t happening. Obviously he’d be the first choice any of us should logically want, but realistically, there’s no way it’s going to happen. If he opts out, the Cavs don’t have the money to sign him. If he stays, the Cavs don’t have the talent to trade for him. The Clippers aren’t in total rebuilding mode where they would trade their franchise player for expiring contracts in return. They’re gonna want a young franchise player in return or somethingt of that caliber….maybe 2 or 3 young elite players.

    I would be ok with getting Baron Davis. Windhorst made a good point somewhere (I forget where I read it) that ideally the Cavs would trade for him without giving him an extension. That way, they can make him play to earn his extension, which would be ideal for both sides. This way, the Cavs can keep their flexibility and options open. Because otherwise, what happens if the Cavs tie themselves with Baron long term and his injury problems return? Yikes!

  • Ricky

    I think Baron Davis is the best player we could realistically get. He fits so many needs this team has – a PG, can push the tempo, can shoot, and create his own shot, can distribute, and can play decent enough defense. I agree that the injury concerns are legit but…..man, for whatever reason I find it hard for me to care about that.

    It will be interesting to see what the Warriors decide to do this offseason because they have so many free agents. One restricted free agent they have that I love is Monta Ellis. He will get more money than the mid-level so there is no way we could ever get him unless it was a sign and trade. But say, for w/e reason, the Warriors decide to keep Baron and not Ellis (I don’t know, it could happen), Ellis wouldn’t be a bad player for us to go after. He isn’t the best shooter but he is lightning quick and can create his own shot. He also can handle the ball pretty well. Just another player the Cavs might want to look at, who knows

  • cbus

    I agree, I think Brand is kind of a pipe dream, but we can have those right? My other pipe dream is Chris Paul, I mean LeBron was there when Paul had his kid, but thats more of a long shot than Brand.

    I wouldn’t mind getting one of the PG’s from Toronto, but I think they are going to shop Ford and keep Calderon. I think Calderon would fit in nice in Cleveland. I also wouldn’t mind them trying to get Redd, which was discussed here last week or the week before. I like the flexibility we have, hopefully they hang on to it. I still think we are fine up front and need more help in the backcourt so LeBron doesn’t have to initate the offense 93% of the time in the half court set, or bring it up for that matter.

  • http://www.chrisclem.com Chris

    The way I looked at it was like this:

    The Cavs would trade a guy in Z who averaged 14 and 9 this year for Jermaine O’Neal who averaged 13 and 6 and missed half the season. He was a great player for a while but his stats have gone down the last 4 seasons and he hasn’t played more than 70 games in 6 years. So you are trading a guy who has better stats and is more durable along with your 6th man and first round pick(!) for a guy who has worse stats but is younger. O’Neal is breaking down. People don’t realize why Z is still a valuable asset as he ages. His game will stay at a higher level (comparatively) as he gets older, because it isn’t athleticism based. Guys whose game is based on their superior athletic ability (rather than skill) drop off more abruptly. Look at Ben Wallace. And look how Michael Jordan adapted as he got older. You can’t jump over people forever, but Z will always be 7’3″ with a 15 ft jumper.

  • http://www.chrisclem.com Chris

    Also, I’d love to have Davis or Calderon. No, no, no TJ Ford. Too small, can’t shoot, and is the injury risk of the highest degree. One foul away from never playing again.

  • raymondjames

    Where are the Delonte West fans? I know he’s not a “true point guard” and I know things didn’t work out when they tried to repeat Delonte’s “What? Shoot the 3? Clock is expiring? Oh, shit, that shit went in!” performance at the end of the year, but Delonte had several strong performances once he got comfortable with the offense. With Boobie on the bench, I like that developing tandem as much as I would like to have Ford and Calderon. Baron Davis, different story, forget injury problems, bring him in.
    Jermaine O’Neal? Really? I hope this is one of those rumors that Ford apparently has pulled from deep within his rectum.
    The main problem that needs to be addressed (preferably by trading up in the draft for an Eric Gordon or Anthony Randolph out of LSU, or Darrell Arthur) is those indubitable five or six minutes at the beginning of the third and usually fourth quarters where everyone stands staring at LeBron while he tries to deke defenders like Dwayne Robertson from D2. If the Cavs don’t make a draft move up, you’ve got to hope CDR hasn’t gone.
    But Jermaine O’Neal… the biggest crook this side of Grant Hill? No thanks.

  • shane

    I don’t know why the heck you wouldnt want jermain oneal. first off lebron needs another dominent player (which isn’t big z or A. verajo.) and a rookie aint gonna due shit… beside ben wallece is pretty much replacing A. verajo

    and j. oneal , i promise will be more consistant when put on a team that has some tallent, K. garnett was just like j. oneal but when put on a team that can due some damage , he actually started caring. so i think this is wat the cav’s need to win a ring, and many more if they want to get past boston, cuz oviously with big z and verajo they can’t so they need to make some changes stupid fucks!!!!

  • Wil

    “K. garnett was just like j. oneal”

    That may be the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

  • Murcy

    hey guys, if you somehow manage to get baron, then (because he’s a big PG who can and will shoot and drive) you can pair him with d west in the backcourt as he can also shoot pass and drive (of course not as good as b-diddy, but he is still decent). he played sg in college (jameer nelson played pg) and was pretty good at it. i used to watch him back in his boston days and he could shoot 3s dunk, drive, pass and so on. so that would be a nice backcourt, and give you two shooters who can free up some space for lebron. boobie would be the 6th man, as an offensive spark off the bench, if the cavs can work out a reasonble deal. so that all sounds pretty good, but how do you get baron??? mle won’t do it. sign-and-trade with the warriors? or how? peace

  • alex597

    i would like some tony parker hes a great scorer and pretty good passer i think they need a point guard a 2 guard leave the big guys alone their ok

  • http://www.clevelandcurse.com Jay

    WOW. The cavs need to improve either the backcourt or the frontcourt. Honestly I don’t care which one as long as they improve. Jeramaine Oneal is not the answer. 44 million over the next two years ends any chance of doing anything else. what the cavs need is for a veteran player to sign for the midlevel exception for one year to play with LBJ and realize he has a good chance to get a ring. (elton brand are you reading this)

    dream situation for me, trade wally, andy, 19th pick for baron davis, sign brand to that exception. of course there are other dreams….

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  • jody

    i would be satisfied with b davis or elton. j oneal is out of his prime old and his career is basically done