O'Neal to Toronto: Pacers Draft Eve Trade Makes Sense

I applaud you Larry Bird.

You stepped into the role of President/CEO of the Indiana Pacers with one goal in mind. 

Restore this franchise back to the Elite in the Eastern Conference. 

You understood you were not going to achieve that with Jermaine O'Neal.  At least not with the supporting cast around him and the lack of salary cap room due to overpaid players. 

We all know that this is the first of many moves that you will make in your current role.  Sending Jermaine O'Neal north of the border makes sense for everyone involved.  

O'Neal's move should hardly come as a shock to those in the sports world. 

While he may be a six time all-star, Jermaine has only played an average of 54 games a season over the past three years.  

A solid contributor in Indiana over the past eight years, O'Neal and Indiana needed a change. 

Indiana desperately needed an upgrade to the point guard position. They got one in T.J Ford.  Though not a perennial all-star, Ford is a solid PG. 

A rare neck condition has limited Ford over the past four years, but since returning from neck surgery, has continues to get better. 

Ford is only 25, has made improvements in the past few years, and is an immediate upgrade over current Pacer PG Jamaal Tinsley. 

Jackie Moon is an upgrade over Jamaal Thugsley. 

Along with the trade Indiana will now hold the 11th and 17th picks in tomorrow nights draft. 

That's two picks in the top 20. 

Indiana will also get much needed salary cap room after the 2008-2009 season.  Having salary cap room in 2009 looks to be very interesting with the likes of Allen Iverson, Elton Brand, and Kobe Bryant scheduled to become free agents. 

Not a bad list to have money to spend on.

Larry will now turn his attention towards the draft. 

Sure this is only the beginning of the Larry Bird regime in Indiana. 

Larry still has more moves to make in the coming months, but this one sure looks like a sign of good things to come.