The NBA, Where Crazy Trades Happen – Yi Jianlian for Richard Jefferson, Jermaine O’Neal for TJ Ford

So unless you’ve been asleep all morning, you’ve probably heard about this.

Jermaine O’Neal will be sent to the Raptors for TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, the Raptors 1st round pick (#17) and a player to be named later.

The Pacers have FINALLY decided to blow things up (maybe?) and try something new (I hope) because they still have not recovered from the melee at Auburn Hills.

On paper, this looks good for both teams. In theory, If Jeramine O’Neal stays healthy, the Raptors have some serious big (lanky) guys.

Let’s forget about the fact that O’Neal isn’t from Europe (which seems to be one of the main things Toronto looks for) look at the roster the Raps would have left:

PLAYER	POS	HT	WT	FROM
Andrea Bargnani	C-F	7-0	250	Italy
Maceo Baston	C-F	6-10	230	Michigan
Chris Bosh	F	6-10	230	Georgia Tech
Primoz Brezec	C	7-1	255	Slovenia
Jose Calderon	G	6-3	210	Spain
Carlos Delfino	G	6-6	230	Argentina
Joey Graham	F	6-7	225	Oklahoma State
Kris Humphries	F	6-9	235	Minnesota
Jason Kapono	F	6-8	215	UCLA
Jamario Moon	F	6-8	205	Meridian CC (MS)
Anthony Parker	G-F	6-6	215	Bradley

Throw in a 6′ 11″ Jermaine O’Neal and you have a team with 5 legitimate big men and only a PG under 6′ 6″. That’s a tall, young, athletic and ethnically diverse team.

IF O’Neal stays healthy…

Anyway, the Raptors weren’t that far away from being a really good team in 07-08 and this trade certainly won’t hurt them (because TJ Ford NEEDED to go).

But the one trade that’s just now starting to surface is a Yi Jianlian for Richard Jefferson deal.

Of course this is still a developing deal, but it certainly makes things interesting.

I don’t think Richard Jefferson turns the Bucks into a 50 win team in one season alone. But, he definitely won’t hurt. And they traded away an overvalued foreigner for him.

Plus, it proves the New Jersey ACTUALLY DOES plan to sign LeBron James. It makes the Jason Kidd trade look like it was a prequel in retrospect.

AND NOW, MY VOTE FOR THE TEAM MOST LIKELY TO LOSE 70 GAMES IN 2008-09…THE NEW JERSEY NETS!!!!!

Think about it…This is a team that will fold until the summer of 2010 when they try to get LeBron James. Expect the Nets to be attempting to get the first overall draft pick for the next two seasons. Expect the Nets to build a core of young guys perfect for accommodating a guy who will want to win it all. Expect floppage like you have never seen before.

But the trades are awesome.

Ever since KG came to Boston, the NBA has been a different league.

In previous seasons you might see some second tier or end of contract type moves but now the NBA is trade crazy (especially since the Celtics won it all with their brilliant front office moves).

And its awesome.

Tonight’s draft will almost certainly feature a plethora of trades. Teams will be reborn, while others implode and start over. Who knows where Michael Beasley will end up. Its great. The NBA is turning into baseball. Except with EVEN MORE big name players getting moved via trades.