| Can Jermaine Be The Main Man? Authored by Andrew Perna - June 16, 2006 - 8:30 pm
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O’Neal told Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star, that he plans on having ‘a career year.’ His contract runs through the 2009-2010 season, but O’Neal hinted that if things don’t work out next season then maybe it would be time to move on, “I told Donnie (Walsh) after this year, if things don’t work out, then I don’t feel the need to have this organization, this city, the owners pay my salary.”
We all know that’s just wordplay for saying that if things don’t go well this season he feels the best option might be to have the Pacers trade him and his $127 million contract.
O’Neal, who bulked up last summer, also vowed to come into camp in the best shape of his career telling Wells that he plans to lose fifteen pounds. He also plans on adding kickboxing to his workout regimen to help improve his conditioning and footwork.
I don’t think anyone can really question his ability when he’s healthy and on the same page as his teammates. Statistic-wise, he didn’t have a bad season this year, nor did he the previous year. However, the effect of frequent injuries and constant issues with teammates lessened the value of his play.
In the last two seasons combined, he averaged over twenty-two points and nine rebounds per game, but was only healthy enough to appear in ninety-five games. In 2004, the year in which he finished third in the NBA’s MVP voting, he averaged 20.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.55 blocks per game.
His combined stats from the last two seasons are just one rebound and a fraction of a blocked shot off from equaling to MVP-like numbers.
If this is true than why have fans and media figures been calling for him to be traded?
Most likely, it’s because while the numbers don’t lie, the amount of time he has spent on the trainer’s table the past two years has made people forget just how good he is.
In August of 2005, I wrote an article entitled, ‘J.O. For MVP In ’06.’ I listed many reasons why I felt Jermaine would be able to become an MVP candidate once again, and how his play could lead the Pacers to their first NBA title in franchise history.
We all know what happened after that…
A few months of Artest Antics led to a trade in January, but before Peja Stojakovic could even get fitted for his new uniform O’Neal tore his groin. Jermaine and Peja never got a chance to fully learn each others’ style of play, and just like that Indiana’s season was over. Assuming the Pacers resign Peja, O’Neal will have one of, if not the best shooter in the league to draw defenders away from the paint. He hasn’t had a player like that, since well, Reggie Miller.
The question remains – Can Jermaine become ‘The Man’ once again?
If Indiana makes the right offseason moves this summer, then there’s no reason to believe that he can’t. Why you may ask? He’s been the same old Jermaine, just in smaller doses, over the last two rocky seasons in Pacerville.
Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird will need to seek out a few trading partners, and draft some young potential, but nothing too drastic needs to be done in order for Indiana to return to title contention. I’ve always been a big Jeff Foster supporter, but I think O’Neal would benefit from a stronger inside presence in the paint.
Someone like Stromile Swift or rookie Hilton Armstrong would fit that description. In my contribution to RealGM’s 30 Teams in 30 Days series, I suggested that Armstrong could fit in nicely alongside O’Neal. A good defensive presence, Armstrong could set Jermaine up for a few weak-side blocks every night.
I don’t think the question should be whether or not Jermaine is capable of being the man in Indiana. I think the question should be can he stay healthy for the first time since the Pacers were two wins away from the 2004 NBA Finals?
If so, the rest of the Pacers will be the ones with something to prove. |
