Two Players Available That Could Help Us (Livingston, O'Neal)

[Proudiddy]

Shaun Livingston was released by the Heat today. I know there would be a lot of questions regarding his health since the horrific knee injury he suffered against us a couple years ago, but supposedly he is completely healthy now and the Heat released him for other reasons. He was supposedly angry about the lack of playing time he's been given...

Also, I read on RealGM that the Raptors are shopping Jermaine O'Neal. The article mentioned that scouts say he no longer has any lift in his legs, but from watching him earlier in the year against us, I thought he looked about the same as he did in his "prime." I know we're looking for help with bigs, and if the cost wasn't too high, I would definitely make the move for J.O. I think if the Raptors are frustrated with J.O. then we may able to pry him away with a deal similar to what has been reported involving either Felton OR Wallace.

Anyway, in both cases, we need help in these areas. Although we still have Felton, if he's being shopped then we'll need another PG to come in and help once he is traded. And as it has been well-documented, we need help in the low-post, and even if O'Neal has lost a little something, he's still better than 75-80% of bigs in the league offensively.

Thoughts?

[coordinator0]

I'd go for Livingston, but not O'Neal. IMO he's too injury-prone and I don't think he would fit well with LB. His skill-set would bring a lot to the team, but I don't see it happening.

[Muttley]

Yeah, consider me with the non-O'Neal folks. The fact that Toronto traded for, and then desired to re-trade in the same season should be warning enough to stay away. This is not a JRich = Two players that make us a more well-rounded team type of situation for Toronto.

[spectre]

Ditto and ditto.

Not a fan of O'Neal at all...and that was before he became a huge injury waiting to happen.

[TattoodCats4life]

I'm for lots of moving for us, but not O'Neil... I think we need to keep away from all of the O'neil/O'neals in the league :)

[jstar5]

I would like to give Livingston a try, but still something scares me there. I mean, the Heat released him while PG depth is one of their biggest concerns. They start a rookie (even though he's played well) with Quinn and Banks as back-ups. Sometimes players just don't fit, and I get that, but I still think he could have gotten more burn against that competition if the injury was no concern.

Also, as long as the player wasn't a pain in the ass, any organization with class will state they released a player for "other" reasons as to not lower his free agent value. Typically, where there's smoke there's fire, and if he still has the talent with no injury concerns why didn't they keep him?

[coordinator0]

I would like to give Livingston a try, but still something scares me there. I mean, the Heat released him while PG depth is one of their biggest concerns. They start a rookie (even though he's played well) with Quinn and Banks as back-ups. Sometimes players just don't fit, and I get that, but I still think he could have gotten more burn against that competition if the injury was no concern.

Also, as long as the player wasn't a pain in the ass, any organization with class will state they released a player for "other" reasons as to not lower his free agent value. Typically, where there's smoke there's fire, and if he still has the talent with no injury concerns why didn't they keep him?

IDK, I think the Heat like Chalmers and Quinn at PG. I do too for that matter. Livingston was just there in case Chalmers didn't play well, but he is and there is no playing time for him. I'd like the Bobcats to bring him in, especially if we trade Felton.

[Felton for Prez]

Didn't Livingston hurt himself against us? I guess we owe him a little huh?

In all seriousness, neither Oneal or Livingston are healthy enough to take a flyer on. I'd love to take a look at Livingston in the off-season but now now.

[docend24]

Livingston seems more ready to play than May to me. That's probably the only player I would waive to make a spot for him.

[amour217]

I'd take O'Neal if our team was like a Carolinas Medical Center rec league team

[DirtyU11]

The trade i mentioned in another thread would make sense for us even more now with Livingston being released we can make the trade of felton, nazr, carroll, morrison, may for O'neil, graham, solomon and then sign Livingston for our backup pg. i think he would be content with being a backup because he knows he's not going to start for anyone right now at the point in his career. if all fails we still have lots of cap at the end of this year and next to go in a different direction. we have to take some chances if we are going to be good and i'll take a former all star in O'neil over any big man we have to pair next to Okafor (Diaw is a SF who can play PF)

[SWedd523]

I remember when people were comparing Livingston and his skills/size to a poor man's Magic. I also remember seeing him in some games when he was healthy and couldn't help but admit the kid was going to be special. Then he had that terrible injury and it went out the window. Imagine how different the Clips would've been with him healthy!

I'd love to give him a chance if he's fully recovered from his injury. Maybe we can trade Felts and trash for one player and give Shaun a try

[dnbman]

Yeah, no to both. I've loved O'Neal most of his career, but I don't want him to see him keep declining.

From now on, we need to only go after guys who are athletic and healthy.

[ALuhrs704]

+1 added to the "doesn't want jermaine oneal's medical bill crew"

[tamburello]

IDK, I think the Heat like Chalmers and Quinn at PG. I do too for that matter. Livingston was just there in case Chalmers didn't play well, but he is and there is no playing time for him. I'd like the Bobcats to bring him in, especially if we trade Felton.

If that were the case, I think Pat Riley wouldn't have signed him with full bi-annual exception and 2 years long contract. I believe it just didn't work out. Since we already have 2 PG's + Singletary, for whom LB has apperently high expectations, I don't see Livingston signing possible. But if I were Jordan, I wouldn't spend a millisecond to sign him, maybe even claim him off waivers, making him here for at least one more season. Because I believe he had the ability to be a very important player, even after that horrible injury he can be an impact player, if not, he's better than Singletary any day.

O'Neal has a huge contract coming off books in 2010, but I'd want him if we dump Raptors either Carroll's of Mohammed's contract. I don't think Colangelo is stupid enough to do that.

[JamieMcNeill]

There is no possible scenario where we trad Wallace or Felts for O'Neal.

But if we do pull the trigger on a Felton trade for a 2 and/or bigs then Livingston becomes very attractive as a guy to sign for backup duties.