Phoenix Suns reserve center Jermaine O'Neal is having one of his best seasons in years, and would definitely be of value to a team trying to make a playoff push, One such team is the Los Angeles Lakers, but Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic says it's highly unlikely that the Suns would trade O'Neal to the Lakers.
NBA trade rumors: Jermaine O’Neal unlikely to land with Lakers
Suns reserve center Jermaine O’Neal could be traded to a team looking for a playoff boost, but that team almost certainly will not be the Lakers.
Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports
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Quite simply, the Suns cannot afford to help the Lakers in any way, because they own the Lakers' first-round draft pick this season thanks to the Steve Nash sign-and-trade deal. That pick is currently unprotected, so if Los Angeles misses the playoffs, Phoenix would add a second lottery pick to the one they will already have themselves. For a team that's in serious need of a rebuild, having those two lottery picks is huge.
O’Neal has not had much time to think about trade possibilities, as both he and his 13-year-old daughter have been dealing with heart issues. The veteran has said that he would not mind playing out the string in Phoenix despite its poor record, but that if the right deal comes up, he would be “for it.” But that right deal is not in Los Angeles.
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