The best way for the Indiana Pacers to get any kind of salary cap space this summer was if power forward Jermaine O'Neal opted out the final two years of his contract.
That didn't happen and now the Pacers are stuck trying to trade an oft-injured player that has seen his elite status around the league drastically fall the past couple of years. O'Neal's agent, Arn Tellem, recently told the Pacers that the six-time All Star wasn't going to opt out the final two years of his contract. O'Neal's decision not to opt out wasn't surprising because he would have left behind a guaranteed $44 million to be an unrestricted free agent.
It's no secret that the Pacers and O'Neal are ready to part ways. The trick for Indiana, though, is finding a team that wants him. O'Neal averaged only 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds while playing just 42 games because of a knee injury last season.
O'Neal is spending the summer working out at a facility in Las Vegas in an attempt to regain his All-Star status. The Pacers hope his offseason work will be good enough for them to trade him.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy both thrived in coach Jim O'Brien's up-tempo offense. The two averaged career highs in points and were the focal point of an offense that relied on three-point shooting. Both players attempted at least 389 three-pointers, with Granger making 171 and Dunleavy making 165.
TURNING POINT: The Pacers lost at least three straight games seven times this season. They would have likely made the playoffs if they had half as many losing streaks. Lack of mental and physical toughness is the reason behind the constant losing streaks. They lost more than 10 games where they had leads of at least 10 points.
