JO Wants to retire a Pacer?

[Starkiller]

In the wiretap. What do you guys think? I always loved JO as a player. Think he could come back to this team as a role player and produce at all? With Danny and Roy JO doesn't need to be the focal point of the offense but he's still a PF who can block shots and stretch the floor for Roy. If he can be had cheap I'd love it, if nothing else for a nostalgia deal.

[PR07]

If he wants to come back a backup role player, then I'd have no problem with it. He could still do some things to help this team.

[Starkiller]

If he wants to come back a backup role player, then I'd have no problem with it. He could still do some things to help this team.

I agree, he could spot start at PF/C too if needed. I wouldn't be against paying him like 5-7 million a year at all for that role.

[Miller4ever]

At this point, he's getting 5 mil. In two years when his contract is up, he should be had for 3-4 mil a year. I don't want to dump that much money for him, especially since his effectiveness has declined ridiculously.

[Starkiller]

At this point, he's getting 5 mil. In two years when his contract is up, he should be had for 3-4 mil a year. I don't want to dump that much money for him, especially since his effectiveness has declined ridiculously.

IDK, I'd pay him that. I think he'd be a good leader for our young guys, and a great mentor for Roy. I think he'd be great as a defensive stopper and low post option at about 15 minutes a game or so. A front court of Roy/Big FA PF we get/Tyler, Josh, and JO off the bench is great.

[Val Holliday]

I'd love Jermaine back, but it'd be more realistic if his contract with Boston was only 1 year.

[Starkiller]

Semi-OT: Does Indiana ever retire number 7? He's got a lot of Pacers records. I would like to see it. I honestly think if not for the brawl we had a championship with him as our anchor.

[Miller4ever]

We should retire guys like Rik Smits first. He's had longevity over O'Neal. It would be different if O'Neal ends his career here, though. It's a tough call. Dale Davis and Mark Jackson would then have to be entered into the conversation. I don't think it will be retired.

[Indy2thaWindy]

We should retire guys like Rik Smits first. He's had longevity over O'Neal. It would be different if O'Neal ends his career here, though. It's a tough call. Dale Davis and Mark Jackson would then have to be entered into the conversation. I don't think it will be retired.

JO was better than all of them.

[Scoot McGroot]

We should retire guys like Rik Smits first. He's had longevity over O'Neal. It would be different if O'Neal ends his career here, though. It's a tough call. Dale Davis and Mark Jackson would then have to be entered into the conversation. I don't think it will be retired.

JO was better than all of them.

On talent alone? Yup. But in terms of what the team achieved, the Smits, Jackson, and Davis Pacers were much more consistently good.

I could see JO go either way in terms of jersey retirings. I think Smits would have to come first, then JO, then Davis and Jackson would come after.

[chube]

I see a lot of people thinking about where he'd fit on the roster, but couldn't he do the thing where he signs a contract and then retires a day later. They do that a lot in the NFL.

[Miller4ever]

There's much less flexibility like that in the NBA, especially with min contracts set at a higher price. The fairest way would probably be to sign him to something reasonable while he still has juice left.

[chube]

^^^ Ah, didn't know that. Thanks for clearing that up. I figured it had to be a reason it didn't happen more often in the NBA.

[mizzoupacers]

JO was the most talented big guy the Pacers have had in the last 30 years, and a pretty decent human being too. But I don't want him to come back. As a player he is now a shadow of his former self, plus he is just too much a reminder of a very disappointing chapter in the team's history. Just my feelings about it, I can't argue with anyone who'd like to see him retire as a Pacer.

[Starkiller]

JO was the most talented big guy the Pacers have had in the last 30 years, and a pretty decent human being too. But I don't want him to come back. As a player he is now a shadow of his former self, plus he is just too much a reminder of a very disappointing chapter in the team's history. Just my feelings about it, I can't argue with anyone who'd like to see him retire as a Pacer.

I never looked at JO in bad light from the brawl. A fan came on the court, I'd have hit him too. Artest and Jackson, yeah I blamed them for the explosion of the team, but JO tried to come back and played hard as he could to get us back to winning, just couldn't do it with our other best two players gone.

I think JO did more with less than all the other guys mentioned in here on jersey retirements, also, none of those guys (I don't believe, I was young then) were one of the best in the league at their position. During his prime, only KG and Tim Duncan were better PF's than JO IMO.

[chube]

Agreed. That tool who came on the court and tried to pick a fight with a pissed 6'8" nutcase in Artest got what he deserved. Same with the guy who came after JO. And that sliding punch was slick! THWAP!

Plus, let's not also forget about when JO took himself out of a blowout win when he had I think 54 points so that Reggie could keep the franchise record for points in a game.

[Starkiller]

I haven't been to a game where he is a visitor, does he get a big ovation when he's announced in Conseco? Caused I'd go nuts for him.

[chube]

I haven't either. But if he plays on the 28th, I'll be able to tell you. I'll be at that game against Boston.

[Wizop]

if he wants a ceremonial hire on retirement day, fine. I don't want him anywhere near our locker room or our young players.

[Starkiller]

if he wants a ceremonial hire on retirement day, fine. I don't want him anywhere near our locker room or our young players.

Why? You make it sound like he's some kind of cancer or something.