I was just sitting here thinking about the trade that could have been and the trade that was.  I also think about just a Boston and Indiana trade. 

My Trade Scenario:

Indiana would be getting the five players that Minnesota got.  The only difference is that we would not get the draft picks.  So, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, and Sebastian Telfair would come to Indiana and Jermaine O'Neal would have gone to Boston. 

Why It Would Have Worked:

Boston would have been able to keep the two picks that they sent to Minnesota, which would have helped them add depth to the team for the future.  If they did not want the picks, they could have then shipped them to other teams for more veteran help or for younger players already in the league.

Indiana would have gotten rid of O'Neal's massive contract, plus the fact that every player they would be getting in return have expiring contracts.  Those five players would be playing harder for extra pay after the season and if they didn't pan out, teams are always looking for expiring contracts to get some cap relief for the next season.  This would have give the Pacers plenty of wiggle room and a TON of leverage around the trade deadline.

"What's that?  You want Theo Ratliff?  Well you have to take Dunleavy too or it's no deal."

Why It Would NOT Have Worked:

Jermaine O'Neal hates Danny Ainge apparently.  So, that is a big reason for the trade not happening.  Also, Kevin Garnett is undoubtedly better than O'Neal, so the Celtics giving up those five players for JO might not have happened.

I don't really like the trade scenario in which we would have given up Jermaine and got Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.  It would have made zero sense for us.  Bynum would have been a young project, like O'Neal was when he came to town and Odom is pretty much an injury waiting to happen.  The trade would have done nothing for the Pacers except taken them closer to the lottery.

On a sidenote:  I just read John Hollinger's ESPN Insider take on the Pacers.  He predicts they will go 28-54 on the season.  I believe I said 45-37, so that is a difference of 17 wins.  28 wins?!?!?!?  We aren't the Memphis Grizzlies or the Atlanta Hawks for the love of all things good in this world.  Let's split that in half and say 36-46 for a compromise.