The buzz this week in Cleveland has been the trade rumor involving Pacers forward/center Jermaine O'Neal.
Yes, O'Neal is available, but not for the expiring contracts of the Cavs' Wally Szczerbiak and Eric Snow, a league source confirmed last week. However, not everyone thinks it's a great idea bringing O'Neal to the Cavs. "He's not the guy that's advertised," said one league source.
O'Neal is billed as an athletic 7-footer who can run the floor. There's only one drawback: He doesn't run.
Detractors think he wouldn't work in Cleveland with forward LeBron James being the focal point. They think O'Neal is somewhat of a black hole. Once he takes a pass in the low post, he rarely passes out of it.
O'Neal hasn't played as many as 70 games since the 2003-04 season. He's been injury-prone. He'll be 30 years old in October and has much wear and tear on his body. He has $44 million remaining on his contract and has no plans on opting out.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: James became the first player in franchise history to lead the league in scoring. He was also the first player ever to lead the league in scoring and average exactly 30 points a game. Along the way, he also overtook former center Brad Daugherty to become the Cavs' all-time leading scorer.
TURNING POINT: Just seconds before the trade deadline was to expire on Feb. 21, the Cavs pulled off the biggest trade in franchise history. They sent six players to Chicago and Seattle and acquired Ben Wallace and Joe Smith from the Bulls and Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak from the SuperSonics. It was a major undertaking trying to get the four players -- three of whom became starters -- acclimated to the Cavs. They took on more salary and will pay more luxury tax. By losing in the second round of the playoffs, they did not meet their goal.
