Who Likes Trades?!?!

This guy does. Finally the reality show we all know as the National Basketball Association ends it's go to challenge Point Guard Wars as the Toronto Raptors have completed a trade (in principal) which sends point guard (questionable title) T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic, a player to be named, and the #17 pick to the Indiana Pacers for forward/center Jermaine O'Neal.

It seems like everyone's loving this deal so far, but I'm wondering when we went back to 1997 because that sounds like an awful lot of chips to deal for 2 degenerative knees. Regardless of what anyone thinks O'Neal's value is, the deal is still fairly good for Toronto. Great for Indiana, they're getting another pick to rebuild with and they don't have to worry too too much about the point guard situation (although I would never deal for a point guard if I had Travis Diener on the books). Jermaine O'Neal healthy gives you about 15/7. Next to Chris Bosh, that might become 15/9. I almost compare it to the deal that went down for that other O'Neal a while ago, because you're not necessarily getting him for the stats he brings, but the presence. Just having the 2 of them down there makes other teams have to consider more when they go up against them for the 40 games that he's healthy. Plus there is a lot of piece of mind involved in knowing who your franchise point guard is (well deserved) instead of having a weird tandem that has never really worked out for you in the first place. Good show Pacers and Raptors, you've started Draft Day out very nicely. Now excuse me, I have to hang up my Jose Calderon FatHead.

Update: Apparently the deal isn't a DONE deal until July 1st; T.J. Ford's deal has a compensation tag that has to come off the books, and dudes need physicals.

R.I.P Antawn Jamison's Nuts

Here is the clip from last night's Pacers-Wizards game:



There is getting tapped in the cajones...and then there is this. The only thing that could have made Danny Granger's "defensive leg kick" gesture more over the top is if he were to tie a Karate Kid bandana on and wear steel-tip boots.

Antawn, you are now the proud owner of the "deez nutz" face, and we feel your pain.

Tantrum 101

David Harrison isn't exactly a household name. -Heck, it isn't even probably a household name in his house. Still, I had to give a big THF tip o' the hat to him last night for the epic tantrum he threw in the game against the Spurs. A good tantrum deserves at least a golf clap in my opinion.

Harrison was hit in the face accidentally by the Spurs' Matt Bonner late in the game, for which Bonner drew an offensive foul...That was all that was necessary...and then the real show began. Ladies and gents, take out your popcorn.

Harrison, who apparently has a long history of emotional outburts, was set off like a rocket in flight (afternoon deliiiight). He started yelling and gesturing like a wild man, spit flying and arms gesturing. Even after the play ended, the other guys on the Pacers just kept their eyes on him to make sure he wouldn't start speaking in tongues and murdering babies. Harrison then told an official something to the effect of "You better watch out, because I'm going to beat the life out of Bonner" and was immediately hit with a technical foul for the honesty/threat. Wow, David! Who would have thought telling an explicit threat to an NBA ref would result in a penalty?

As if it couldn't get any better, Pacers coach Jim O'Brien had seen enough and told Harrison to leave the floor. Realizing his chance to decapitate Bonner had passed, Harrison started yelling from the bench at Bonner and was held back by Troy Murphy and Jamaal Tinsley. He went to the locker room shortly afterwards, where we can only assume anyone named "Matt" who came into contact with him was royally messed up.

I'm not one to promote this sort of behavior, but I AM a big fan of anything that allows fans the opportunity to yell funny things to the players on the court. This fills that bill. Plus, I too have in fact been tossed from many a scrabble tournament for similar actions. The word "sequoia" on a triple word score?! Kiss my ass!

David Harrison, you may be a virtual nobody in the NBA, but to me and the multiple demons you have swirling around in your head you are a hero. Thank you.