I went to ESPN.com especially to see the latest on
this whole trade thing, and this is what I found. Do
you think Portland would do better to trade Jermaine
for the 4th pick or try to find a more experienced
player?

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jermaine O'Neal, saying he needs
more playing time, has asked to be traded from the
Portland Trail Blazers.


"I definitely want to be traded," O'Neal told The
Oregonian on Tuesday. He said his agent Arn Tellem has
made the request to Blazers president Bob Whitsitt.

Whitsitt could not be reached for comment.

"As far as I'm concerned, I would not want to see
Jermaine traded," coach Mike Dunleavy said. "There is
no reason for it, from our standpoint. His future is
very bright."

ESPN's David Aldridge reported last week that the
Chicago Bulls were trying to send their first-round
draft pick -- No. 4 overall -- to the Blazers for
O'Neal.

O'Neal, 21, is heading into his fifth NBA season. When
the 6-foot-11 forward re-signed with the Blazers last
summer, he expected to see an increase in playing
time.

O'Neal averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.3
minutes last season.

"It's time for me to play, and it's not going to
happen in Portland," O'Neal told the newspaper. "I
need 30-35 minutes a night to develop into the type of
player I can be. Just like I said when I came into the
league, and when I was the best player in summer
league two years ago, I'm going to be one of the best
power forwards in the NBA. And that's going to happen
very, very quickly once I get somewhere I can play."

O'Neal appeared in eight of the Blazers' 16 playoff
games and played 35 minutes. O'Neal is entering the
second year of a four-year, $24 million contract he
signed Aug. 2.

The newspaper also reported that the Bulls and Boston
Celtics are among the teams that reportedly have
talked to the Blazers about O'Neal.

"A deal could be agreed to before the draft and go
through later in the summer," O'Neal said.

=====
ICQ:21441039
AIM: ladyalesta
----
"psalm number four falls on your grieving ear
yes, i believe the peace of christ is near
and i am here in his name
you'd do the same, you'd do the same..." "If you let me love you" by Smalltown
Poets(christian group)

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints!
http://photos.yahoo.com