Wednesday night the Raptors embark on their third attempt to make it deep into the Eastern conference playoffs under the management of Bryan Colangelo. However a new era north of the border begins...The Jermaine O'Neal Era.
In addition to his $21.3 million salary tag, the 30-year-old veteran does bring with him a credible resume. O'Neal was selected to six all-star teams and led the Pacers to a 61 win season. His leadership and experience could prove vital to the Raptors cornerstone Chris Bosh.
For six seasons, Bosh has been asked to develop and deliver as a player beyond his age, but nobody knows all about being thrown into the NBA fire more then Jermaine O'Neal himself.
At 18 years, one month and 22 days, O'Neal became the youngest player to play in an NBA game (a mark that has since been eclipsed by Andrew Bynum). At the same time he was under the tutelage of teammates Arvydas Sabonis, Rasheed Wallace and Clifford Robinson. O’Neal, alongside Bosh, is now the tutor.
Aside from the salary gamble, the injury questions, what’s most important is that Toronto’s finally landed a big fish for their front court to support Chris Bosh. Bosh can now, more than any other time in his career, focus more on his offense and less about the load of doing the dirty work in the paint.
Some suggest O'neal just can’t stay healthy. Will he be capable of 70 plus games? Back to back nights? How about just bringing back some of that Charles Oakley swagger the Air Canada Center has missed?
If Jermaine O'neal continues to battle fitness standards, President of Basketball operations, Bryan Colangelo will be forced to be his innovative and creative self because O'neal is under contract till the end of 2009-2010 and owed $44 million over the next two seasons.
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